Bucs head into offseason following Wildcard loss
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' locker room at their practice facility wasn't filled with music and friendly banter on Monday morning. It was filled with the sound of players packing up their lockers.
"I'm just sad it's over," said Bucs' outside linebacker Yaya Diaby.
Following their loss to the Washington Commanders in their Wildcard game Sunday night, the Bucs now have an entire offseason to reflect.
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"As long as football is being played, it's going to be hard to watch what could have been or what we could have done," said Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum.
While players like McCollum think about what could have been, they can also look back on a locker room that bonded together in times of turmoil during the 2024-25 season.
"You can think of it as a brotherhood. It's a family type atmosphere from the top down," McCollum said.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen calls a play as Head Coach Todd Bowles searches the sidelines during the NFC Wild Card Playoff game between the Washington Commanders and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 12, 2025 at Raymond Jam
Once riding a four-game losing streak, the Bucs won six of their final seven games to secure their fourth straight NFC South title. Many in the locker room credit the turnaround to the culture inside that same locker room.
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"For me, this is all I've known," said rookie Bucs center Graham Barton. "But it has been expressed to me that this is not normal to have the bond and the chemistry that we do."
With the Bucs now heading into the offseason, however, comes the inevitable changes to the team over the next few months. Offensive coordinator Liam Cohen is linked to several vacant head coaching positions, while around 20 players will enter some form of free agency this offseason.
"This has been one of the tightest locker rooms that I've been a part of, so that's going to suck," said Bucs offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs. "But, guys are going to go and get what's theirs, go play somewhere and be successful."
Those free agents include fan favorites, like Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin, whose season ended early due to a dislocated ankle. And after playing each of his last two seasons on one-year deals, veteran Bucs linebacker Lavonte David will hit the open market once again.
"There's a lot to think about, a lot to think about," David said after the loss Sunday night. "I'm just going to soak this one up. I'm going to go home, be with my little girl, be a dad and go from there."
Now, with an offseason looming, the Bucs look toward their future. Even if that future arrived a few weeks earlier than they would have liked.
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