On a cold December evening in 1979, Tampa Bay Stadium transformed into something surreal.

Steps turned into splashes, fans huddled under umbrellas as torrents of rain poured overhead, and the Bucs fought tooth and nail for a 3-0 victory over the Chiefs in what became known as the "Monsoon Game." That single field goal by Neil O'Donoghue didn't just win a game – it secured the first-ever division title for Tampa Bay, propelling them from NFL doormat to contender.

Former tight end Jimmie Giles remembers it like it happened yesterday.

Former Bucs TE Jimmie Giles – Photo by: USA Today

"Well, guys, I don't know if you've had an opportunity to look at some of the old film, but I can remember when we won the game against Kansas City, I was just so elated," Giles said at last week's Raise the Flags premiere event. "I mean, I got hydrated just being so happy. I fell on the ground in the mud and started dancing around. That's how I feel today about it. I still feel that way because it was exhilarating to know that we were not losers anymore. Although I wasn't part of that first 2-24, or whatever it was. I was just excited to be a part of it."

Even decades later, Giles recalled the moment he fell in the mud with linebacker Dave Lewis. It was on that day that he and the rest of that 1979 team solidified its legacy. One that still holds up and filled with times that will be looked back on for generations to come.

Jimmie Giles Reflects On Playing With Doug Williams

When Jimmie Giles arrived in Tampa via trade before the 1978 NFL Draft, the Bucs were fresh off an 0-14 inaugural 1976 season and only improved to 2-12 in 1977. Trading the first overall pick to the Oilers before that draft netted the team Giles and quarterback Doug Williams in 1978. By 1979, the momentum had shifted. Led by a ferocious defense anchored by defensive end Lee Roy Selmon and Williams' arm, they clinched the NFC Central crown with that soggy showdown, which was their first legitimate taste of winning.

Former Bucs QB Doug Williams – Photo by: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Giles reflected on what it was like to catch passes from the team's first gunslinging quarterback.

"Actually, it was really natural for me," Giles said. "I had no problem because I grew up in the same conference that he did [playing at Alcorn State], and we had similar types of quarterbacks. Of course, you know, [Steve] McNair was part of that… Doug was just a guy who knew the game; he knew how to play football, and he knew how to throw the football. I just wish we had the opportunity to throw as many passes as they do now. Maybe each of us would already be in the Hall of Fame."

Giles does have a point, as Williams' 379 pass attempts in 1979 pale in comparison to the 570 pass attempts Baker Mayfield had last season.

Though he often lamented the conservative nature of Tampa Bay's offense, the 6-foot-3, 239-pound tight end still managed to build one of the most impressive resumes of any tight end of his era. Over nine seasons with the Bucs, he caught 278 passes for 4,300 yards and 34 touchdowns – numbers that not only made him the franchise's leading tight end but also placed him among the NFL's most dangerous red-zone threats.

Former Bucs TE Jimmie Giles – Photo by: USA Today

His knack for explosive plays showed in his average of 15.4 yards per catch, including an eye-popping 18.2 yards per reception in 1980, when he led all tight ends. He was rewarded with four Pro Bowl selections, including three straight nods from 1980 to 1982 and another in 1985, a distinction no other Buccaneer skill-position player held at the time.

Perhaps the clearest window into his talent came in 1985 against Miami, when Giles hauled in four touchdown passes in a single game.

If he had the chance to play in the modern NFL, Giles only ponders the possibilities of what he and Williams could have accomplished.

"I like to dream about it," Giles said. "Believe it or not, I always dream about things that I want to happen. I literally had dreams of catching about 15 passes and 3-4 touchdowns [in a game]. The four touchdowns came to fruition, but not the 15 passes [laughs].

Jimmie Giles Happy To Contribute, Be Remembered Through 50th Season Doc

Jimmie Giles' mixture of production, durability, and flair eventually earned him immortalization at Raymond James Stadium's in the team's Ring of Honor in 2011, when he became the first offensive player and only the second overall, behind Lee Roy Selmon, to receive the recognition.

Former Bucs TE Jimmie Giles – Photo courtesy of the Buccaneers

"It was phenomenal when it started, Giles said of the Ring of Honor. "It's something that can never be taken away because I was the first. I was the second player behind Lee Roy Selmon, who was one of the greatest Buccaneers in my mind, without a doubt. You always have to pay homage to him; he got this thing started.

"I wanted to be like Lee Roy when I came in. Be as humble as I possibly can to get out there and get the job done. Make people respect you for what you did on the football field. I tried to do that, and I was extremely excited when the Glazers announced me as the second player, and the first offensive player to be in the Ring of Honor."

Fast forward to 2025, and the now 70-year-old Giles is asked about the Raise the Flags documentary.

Although the Bucs did not win the Super Bowl in 1979, climbing from the cellar of the NFC Central to win the division that year had fans celebrating like they hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. He takes pride in knowing his children and grandchildren can now look back at the documentary, his highlights, and the Ring of Honor induction as his footprint will always be felt in Tampa Bay.

"I had no concept that I was going to contribute, but I think the play that I exhibited back in my years in the National Football League gave me the opportunity to be here," Giles said about the multi-part documentary releasing later this year. "I'm so extremely proud that I was such a part of what happened. Being a part of this documentary means a lot to me and my family.

"I'm excited that the Glazers put together something like this because guys can look back years later and see something like this. My grandkids can look back and see that their grandfather, even my kids for that matter, can see that their dad was part of the 50 years of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We started it. We started it in 1979, the winning ways with the Bucs, and I'm excited about it. Everybody in Tampa Bay is excited."