The wait is over.

After Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds embarked on the arduous task of listing the Top 50 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to commemorate the team's 50th season earlier this summer, the full list, as voted on by fans, Tampa Bay media members, and a team committee, was finally revealed on Thursday night – Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks.

You cannot go wrong picking any of the top all-time Bucs for the number one spot, but one name had to be voted as the best player ever.

There was much buildup, but the choice was Brooks, who was a key catalyst in lifting the franchise out of its losing ways and into prominence over the span of his illustrious 14-year career.

Derrick Brooks Was The Bucs Gold Standard Who Earned His Gold Jacket

It was 30 years ago this year when the Bucs traded with the Cowboys to get back into the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft to select Derrick Brooks at No. 28. It turns out they were not just getting a linebacker – they were getting someone who would become heartbeat of the franchise for the next decade and a half. Brooks went on to play 14 seasons in Tampa Bay, never missing a single game, and becoming the gold standard for consistency, leadership, and excellence.

Bucs legendary LB Derrick Brooks and DT Warren Sapp – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It was hard for him not to be your favorite player.

Brooks anchored the weakside linebacker spot in head coach Tony Dungy and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's revolutionary Tampa 2 defense, a scheme that depended on speed, intelligence, and flawless instincts.

Who better to fit that role than No. 55?

Few players in NFL history embodied those traits better. He racked up a franchise 2,198 tackles, intercepted 25 passes, forced 24 fumbles, and scored seven defensive touchdowns. What made Brooks special wasn't just his production – it was his ability to turn defense into offense, flipping momentum with pick-sixes and fumble returns at the most crucial moments.

Need an example? Look no further than Brooks' 44-yard pick-six off Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon during Super Bowl XXXVII to put the finishing touches on a 48-21 victory to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. That single play captured what Brooks had been doing for nearly a decade: closing games and setting the standard for greatness.

It was that 2002 season that marked the pinnacle of his career, as Brooks was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. That year he delivered one of the finest defensive campaigns ever by a linebacker, recording 118 tackles, five interceptions and an unprecedented four defensive touchdowns for one of the greatest defenses in NFL history.

Brooks was selected to 11 Pro Bowls, including 10 straight nods from 1997 to 2006, and earned nine All-Pro honors along the way. His peers respected him not just for his dominance but for his durability, as he started 221 consecutive games at linebacker in an era defined by physical, hard-nosed play. That is nearly unthinkable by today's standards.

Derrick Brooks Stands Out And Worthy Of Being Voted Best Bucs Player Ever

By the time he retired, Derrick Brooks was the defining figure in Bucs history and in 2014, he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a first-ballot selection that affirmed his status as one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history.

One can have an extensive debate about who the greatest Bucs player of all-time is.

Bucs legends Derrick Brooks and Lee Roy Selmon – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

There are arguments to be made for defensive tackle Warren Sapp (whom Scott Reynolds chose No. 1), defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, and cornerback Ronde Barber. All are Hall of Famers, with wide receiver Mike Evans not far behind if you want to go offense and pick someone who will have a gold jacket and bronze bust himself someday.

Still, Derrick Brooks stands out above them because of his unique blend of production, leadership, and longevity. He was the cornerstone of a championship defense and the face of a franchise that rose from irrelevance to champions thanks to his stellar play. Simply put, Brooks is worthy of being recognized as the best Buccaneer of all-time.