What are some more big what ifs in Bucs history?

Last year, I wrote an article very similar to this highlighting some of the biggest what ifs that the Bucs have had over the years. A few of them could have some major implications in the future.

Now here we are again with another couple of what if scenarios the Bucs could have found themselves in if a few things went differently.

What if Brett Favre was traded to Tampa in 2008?

Back in 2008, legendary quarterback Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers relationship had run its course. The Packers were ready to move on with Aaron Rodgers as their guy and Favre would be looking for a new home. Also in 2008, the Bucs could not find the right answer at QB. They had gone through multiple veterans who were sometimes good, but sometimes disappointing.

After making the playoffs in 2007 but getting eliminated in the wild card round with Jeff Garcia as their signal caller, Tampa Bay was ready to make a change. There was a lot of smoke about Favre and the Bucs at the time and then the trade winds started to blow. The noise was so loud in fact, that many writers and even some members of the Bucs front office believed a deal for Favre was all set. One of the greatest QBs in the 90s and 2000s was going to be a Buccaneer, until something changed and the Packers sent him to the Jets instead. Rumors were that the Packers did not wish to send Favre in the same conference and they played Tampa Bay on their schedule that season. But what if the trade had gone through and Favre donned the red and pewter in 2008?

The Bucs would end up missing the playoffs in 2008 by having an historic collapse at the end to turn a 9-3 record into 9-7 and it led to Jon Gruden being fired. Favre with the Jets was not a match made in heaven, he struggled and only lasted one year there before the Jets released him and he would go to Minnesota. There are a lot of people who simply believe that the New York market just wasn’t suitable for a player like Favre so it stands to wonder if a smaller market like Tampa Bay would have been a better fit. The ripple effect this would have had could have changed the Bucs future in a major way. If Favre is the QB do they go 0-4 down the stretch and miss the playoffs? A 10-6 record would have gotten them in and Jon Gruden likely keeps his job. How long would Gruden have continued to coach the Bucs? Likely at least a few more seasons, which means the Bucs probably don’t draft Josh Freeman as they have Favre in the mix.

The mid/late 2000s and early 2010s were a frustrating time for a lot of Bucs fans, but if the trade had gone down there may have been at least a little bit more excitement.

What if Bert Emmanuel caught it?

In 1999, the Bucs and Rams played in the NFC championship game. For the Bucs it was an opportunity to go to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Unfortunately it did not end that way as Kurt Warner and the Rams did just enough against the Bucs stout defense to win the game by a score of 11-6. Tampa Bay could only muster up 6 points, but things could have played out very differently had one particular call gone their way. Down by five late in the game, the Bucs were driving and had a chance to win the game with a touchdown. Tampa Bay quarterback Shaun King fired a ball to receiver Bert Emmanuel for an 11 yard gain which moved the Bucs closer to the end zone, or so we thought. After review, it was ruled that Emmanuel did not maintain possession of the ball because part of the ball had hit the ground. The call was overturned and the Bucs would not be able to move the ball and would fall to the Rams.

Set Number: X59485

It was such a controversial call that the NFL made a rule that states that the player can still have possession of the ball even if part of the ball touches the ground. The Rams would go on to beat the Titans in the Super Bowl but what if that was the Bucs instead? What if the catch was upheld and the Bucs scored a touchdown to win the game? Personally I think the Bucs defense was too good for Tennessee and Tampa Bay likely would have beaten them to capture their first world championship. It would also mean that Tony Dungy never gets fired 2 years later and Jon Gruden never comes in, which also means the Bucs keep all of the draft picks that they spent to get Gruden.

With a Super Bowl championship and all of their draft picks in place, the early/mid 2000s may have been much kinder to the Bucs than they actually were. The fates of many coaches and players may have rested on that one play in the NFC Championship game.

What if Chip Kelly joined the Bucs?

Back in 2012, the Bucs were in hot pursuit of one of the fastest rising names in the college football coaching ranks. They had just fired Raheem Morris and had their sights set on a splash. Oregon’s Chip Kelly was the team’s top target and there were even reports that the team and Kelly were finalizing an agreement for him to be their head coach before Kelly backed out and the Bucs went into scramble mode, eventually settling for Rutgers’ Greg Schiano. Kelly would indeed come to the NFL just one year later though when he was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles and had a few successful seasons there while Schiano would only coach Tampa Bay for two seasons, going 11-21 before being fired after the 2013 season. So what if Kelly hadn’t gotten cold feet and he came to Tampa Bay in 2012?

This is one of the scenarios where it may have actually not had such a positive outcome as yes Kelly had some success in Philadelphia, but his tenure there was quickly soured as the Eagles spiraled out of control and Kelly seemingly wanted more control over the roster. I have no doubt the Bucs would’ve been a much more exciting team to watch in 2012, after all Kelly’s no huddle offensive attack helped revolutionize NFL offenses. The biggest ripple effect this could have had? Even if the Bucs had more success in 2014 and didn’t end up with number one overall pick, would Kelly had tried to trade up for Marcus Mariota like the rumors suggest he tried to do with the Eagles?

Had Kelly left Oregon in 2012, he wouldn’t have coached Mariota, but he recruited him to Oregon and Mariota’s style fit Kelly’s offense like a glove. All in all, the Bucs probably dodged a bullet here. Kelly flamed out quickly in the NFL and after an unsuccessful run with the 49ers, he is now back in the college ranks, but man that would have made for some fun content back then.

What do you think are some of the biggest what ifs in Bucs history? Let us know in the comments section below!