Like every year, there are many questions for the Bucs heading into the new season. Near the top of the list is a question surrounding the team’s big offseason free agent signing – outside linebacker Haason Reddick.

Reddick has a profile of a top pass rusher in this league with 59 career sacks, including a dominant span of 50.5 sacks in four straight seasons from 2020 to 2023. The problem is, last year Reddick recorded just one sack in 10 games during a jumbled season with the Jets. This involved a trade from Philadelphia to New York, not showing up for training camp because of a contract dispute, and not even getting to play until the last week of October.

Haason Reddick Arrives With A Chip On His Shoulder 

So when Haason Reddick signed with the Bucs the question that arose was if the team will get the Reddick of old with last year being an outlier due to certain factors, or if the 30-year old Reddick is actually on the decline. Bucs outside linebackers coach Larry Foote was all for the signing of Reddick this offseason to help the team’s pass rush, as he previously worked with Reddick in Arizona.

Bucs OLB Haason Reddick – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He’s coming in with a big chip on his shoulder,” Foote said of Reddick. “He’s upset – and we like it. He’s pissed off. He wants to show this league that he’s one of the premier pass rushers in this league and we got a spot for him. He’s motivated, he’s a guy who loves training, loves working out, but he’s got something to prove. We’re here to help him.”

If Reddick can tap into the player he once was where he was making Pro Bowls and being in consideration for Defensive Player of the Year honors, it changes the entire complexity what Todd Bowles defense can be. Foote spoke on exactly what Reddick is bringing to Tampa Bay’s outside linebacker room.

“Speed, he brings about (60) sacks under his belt,” Foote said. “He knows how to rush the passer. He’s been a natural. I make fun of him because when I was recruiting him at Temple I told him, ‘Tell this league you want to play rusher.’ I was fortunate I got to coach him off the ball, but finally he found his way home and he’s a natural pass rusher. Another short guy, but he has speed that you can’t coach. He’s just improved. Watching him through the years, I’ve always followed him. His game is just getting better.”

Larry Foote Returns To Coaching OLBs With His Old School Approach

Another benefit of having Haason Reddick in the building is the close relationship between he and outside linebackers coach Larry Foote. This allows Foote to coach Reddick how he really wants to. That means digging into him a little deeper than maybe other players initially because of their previous relationship working together in Arizona.

“We got a tight relationship,” Foote said. “Guys (have) seen that earlier, (Chris) Braswell and them, they’re getting used to me and they’ve just seen how I was really getting at him. We have that relationship. We stayed in touch even when I left Arizona and I just look at him as family. He’s had dinner at my house several times in Arizona, my wife and kids know him. I get to really coach him old school.”

Bucs co-defensive coordinator and OLBs coach Larry Foote – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

It’s also a byproduct that some of the younger players will see how Foote can coach. Foote previously coached outside linebacker for the Bucs from 2019 to 2021 where he helped Tampa Bay win Super Bowl LV with Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul, then inside linebackers from 2022 to 2024. He’s moving back to coaching outside linebackers in 2025, so outside of Anthony Nelson and previously working with Reddick, Foote is coaching a relatively young group between Yaya Diaby, Chris Braswell, fourth-round rookie David Walker and a few others.

“I’ve got to get in shape,” Foote joked.  “I’ve got to simulate those tackles, I forgot just kicking and holding bags, simulating Tristan Wirfs and those tackles. The other day I came home and said, ‘Man, I’ve got to pick up my running’ – just working out with those guys. But it’s good, those guys are passionate. They’re young, too, so it’s fresh with Yaya and Bras. Nelly knows what to expect from me, and we just got David Walker, Jose’s (Jose Ramirez) in there, so it’s fresh. I’m excited to be back in there.”