Breaking: Former Super Bowl Starter Agree Deal To Return To The Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will undoubtedly have a fantastic off-season. The Buccaneers have already re-signed Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield to multi-season contracts in advance of Monday, March 11, when free agency opens. A comeback to the Buccaneers may also be hinted to by former safety Jordan Whitehead, according to recent conjecture on social media.
After Whitehead uploaded a highlight tape of his skills to the internet, speculation began. In almost every highlight of the reel, Whitehead was sporting a Buccaneers outfit.
Buccaneers React to Whitehead’s Post
Not surprisingly, this was quickly noticed by a couple of the Buccaneers.
For example, as can be seen below, running back Rachaad White reposted Whitehead’s video along with the thoughtful emoji.
Since Whitehead had already left Tampa Bay when he was picked in 2022, White did not start for the team during Whitehead’s tenure there. However, he is not the only current Buc who is watching for Whitehead to make a comeback.
Additionally, the video was uploaded by Calijah Kancey, the Buccaneers’ 2023 first-round pick choice.
If Whitehead decides to return to the NFL, he may hook up with Kancey, who was not yet in the league when Whitehead was with the Tampa Bay Bucs. Kancey, a rising Buccaneers star, could definitely appreciate Whitehead’s tough style.
Whitehead and Winfield Have History
Speaking of tough safeties, Tampa Bay’s Antoine Winfield Jr. would undoubtedly be happy to have his rival back at his side.
The starting safety tandem from Super Bowl 55 might be back in 2024. Whitehead started as the team’s strong safety in the last season of his last tenure with the Bucs, sharing the field with Antoine Winfield Jr.
The Buccaneers are attempting to work out a multi-year contract, even though they just applied the franchise tag to Winfield. When Whitehead and Winfield were paired together in the past, their club had just won a Super Bowl.
Throughout the 2020 season, the safety tandem had a strong statistical record. 168 tackles, 5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries were totaled by the two. What’s even more amazing is that during that season, neither of these two players missed a single game. Each of them engaged in 16 games.
Whitehead played his final two seasons as the starting strong safety with the New York Jets after leaving the Bucs in 2022. Despite the team’s lack of success, he was able to play at a consistently high level despite not having a counterpart in Winfield.
Throughout his two seasons (2022 and 2023) with the Jets, Whitehead recorded 186 tackles, 1 sack, and 6 interceptions.
It’s possible that all of this is just conjecture, but the Buccaneers do require depth at safety. Veteran safety Ryan Neal is now scheduled to become a free agency for the 2024 season. Should he choose to depart, Whitehead might step in to take over Neal’s spot and try to reclaim Tampa’s starting strong safety position.
