The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are one of the newer NFL franchises around; they have only been a franchise since 1976. Their career began as a member of the AFC Western Division, then quickly over to the NFC Southern Division. Residents were so thrilled to have their own pro football team that, even in their first season, season tickets were a sell-out. After many years of hard work, the Buccaneers finally brought home a Super Bowl win in 2002. Fans anticipate the same kind of year in ’09.

In 1976, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers began their career as a member of the AFC Western Division. In order for them to play against certain teams, a move to the NFC Southern Division was inevitable. This move happened only one short year after they began to play pro football.

The Buccaneers, the name itself, has historic sentiment to Tampa Bay. The originating owner, of the Buccaneers, was a man by the name of Tom McCloskey. He did not stay around for long as he was unable to stabilize the team, financially that is. This left room for Hugh Culverhouse to come in and get the team on its feet and away from bankruptcy.

Today, after getting through many of their ups and downs, the Buccaneers play in the Tampa Stadium. The stadium, which holds 73,000 people, is nearly full to overflowing at every home game. Even with two other professional football teams in the state, the Buccaneers still thrive, both financially and from fan support.

Their first two years, in the NFL, were a bit of an embarrassment as they lost 26 games. Yes, every game they played, in the first two years, ended with a loss. Nevertheless, the season of 1979 would proved to be different for the team. Their first five games, in this new season, were wins for the Buccaneers and their fans. It was apparent, now, that this was a good team and tickets, literally, disappeared.

That same year they were the cover / feature story for Sports Illustrated magazine one month. It was also obvious that they were going to the playoffs for the first time in their short history. Immediately after their win against the Kansas City Chiefs, fans swarmed the field and no green could be seen. Fans continued to cheer for their Buccaneers as they went on to win the Central Division title.

In ’96, the Buccaneers faced many changes, the first of which was that Culverhouse was no long in charge of the team. Even though sales were through the rough, the team was suffering severe financial hardships, bordering bankruptcy. Malcolm Glazer purchased the Buccaneers, this same year, for over 190-million dollars. Glazer’s goal was to turn the Buccaneers into a winning franchise – financially and on the field.

The 2008 season was a decent one, for the team, until Monte Kiffin – defensive coordinator – announced that he was leaving the team and moving on to Tennessee that December. This news broke the team and caused them to lose their last four games of the season, ruining their chance at the playoffs. The 2009 season; however, is already looking up. Loose ends have been tied up and the team is ready to play and get their name printed on a championship title.