The long-awaited questions about Ndamukong Suh’s return to football are over. The former Bucs defensive tackle has signed with Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year contract, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

Bucs DT Ndamukong Suh – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Suh spent the last three years with the Bucs and was an integral part of Tampa Bay’s success on defense, including winning Super Bowl LV in the 2020 season. During this offseason the organization had conversations with Suh about bringing him back again but ultimately decided to sign veteran defensive tackle Akiem Hicks instead.

Part of the reason they did not go with Suh was because they wanted the interior defensive line to be quicker with the pass rush, which is why they elected for Hicks and drafted Logan Hall. The other reason, and probably the bigger obstacle, was the money it would take to re-sign Suh. His average salary was $9 million per year in Tampa Bay.

Suh’s Time With The Bucs

Even when the season began, many were still clamoring for Suh to return. He was still unsigned and Hicks had missed six games in a row. Suh played 49 games in Tampa Bay, recording 112 tackles, 14.5 sacks, one forced fumble, five fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns. He never missed a game during his tenure with the franchise.

He now joins an 8-1 Eagles team that is in first place in the NFC and is a Super Bowl favorite. Though the Bucs don’t play the Eagles in the regular season, there is the possibility that these two teams meet later on in a playoff matchup.

As it stands, the Bucs lead the NFC South with a 5-5 record and would hold the fourth seed in the playoff picture. If the standings were to remain the same and each division winner won its first playoff game, the Bucs would take on the Eagles in the second round.