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There was a lot of defensive-related Bucs news on Wednesday morning, but this one will definitely bring a smile to fans’ faces.
It was announced that outside linebacker Yaya Diaby won NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 18 after the career game he had against the Saints this past Sunday. It marks the first time that he has received this kind of recognition.
Yaya Diaby’s Career Game Recognized With Being NFC Defensive Player Of The Week
Bucs HC Todd Bowles and OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Yaya Diaby finished the regular season on a high note, saving his best performance for the Bucs’ season finale. Diaby was a backfield menace on Sunday afternoon, setting career-highs with four tackles for a loss and quarterback hits. Diaby added in a sack on rookie Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler to complete his stat-sheet stuffing.
After struggling to string together sacks throughout the year, the second-year outside linebacker now has 2.5 sacks along with 10 pressures across his past three games.
While he only finished with 4.5 sacks in the regular season, he still joined some elite company for what he has been able to do as a defensive disruptor.
Yaya Diaby became the sixth player since 2017 to record 12.0+ sacks, 25+ quarterback hits and 25+ tackles for loss across their first 34 career games played.
The other five:
– Micah Parsons
– Nick Bosa
– Maxx Crosby
– Bradley Chubb
– Myles Garrett pic.twitter.com/jQlPsq1hcN— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) January 7, 2025
Panthers QB Bryce Young and Bucs OLB Yaya Diaby – Photo by: USA Today
Last month, Diaby spoke with Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds about how he was not happy with the lack of sacks he had over nearing the end of the year.
“Earlier in the year I did let that get to me because I’m like, ‘Dang, I’m kind of doing everything right but it’s just not adding up,’” Diaby said then. “I mean, I still got guys like Calijah [Kancey] and Vita [Vea] making plays off the pressure that I’m getting so it’s not a total loss. But at the end of the day, like you said, [sacks] are what get you paid. That’s just something you can look and grow from so that’s all it is.”
He has grown and shown plenty of improvement this year rushing the passer and generating pressures.
In fact, he finished ninth among edge rushers with a career-high 65 pressures this year, according to Pro Football Focus. Seeing those pressures result in more quarterback takedowns is a promising development the Bucs will be hoping continues in the postseason.
His next test?
Bringing down Commanders rookie dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels in the Super Wild Round on Sunday night.
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