Buccaneers co-owner grateful for doubters before, after playoff run

Tampa Bay Buccaneers co-owner Joel Glazer sounds grateful that doubters and critics made the 2023 season that much more enjoyable for individuals associated with the franchise. 

"I think it was the low expectations (from outside the organization)," Glazer said at the NFL owners meetings about what he liked most about this past campaign, as shared by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "I didn’t agree with the low expectations, but the low expectations and then kind of proving doubters wrong and growing as the season went on. That, to me, is always the bigger thing. You saw that with this team. We fought to the end." 

Many, if not most, in the NFL community expected the Buccaneers to flounder following the retirement of legendary quarterback Tom Brady in February 2023. 

Tampa Bay signed signal-caller Baker Mayfield to a one-year deal the following month, and Mayfield helped guide the club to the division title and an impressive 32-9 wild-card playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles made it known in February that he noticed the handful of preseason articles that predicted the 2023 Buccaneers would finish the campaign near the bottom of the overall NFL standings. 

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht teasingly confronted a reporter who forecasted Tampa Bay would win only "two" games last season. 

"It didn’t make sense last year where everybody had us (toward the bottom of the league) but that’s what made it even more special and as the season went on, it made it more fun," Glazer explained.

Don't look now, but history is somewhat repeating itself after the Atlanta Falcons signed quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency. As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Falcons as the betting favorites at -130 odds to claim the NFC South division crown. That same outlet had Tampa Bay at +300 odds. 

Licht left little doubt on Tuesday that "this team likes being the underdog" and that he likes "keeping the receipts." Meanwhile, Glazer expressed confidence regarding what is to come for the 2024 Buccaneers. 

"I think we’re going to build off last year (second round of playoffs) and looking forward to this year and we’ve got a lot of players back so we’re looking forward to this season," Glazer added.