19. Buccaneers QB Brad Johnson – 2001-04

By Scott Reynolds

Playing quarterback for Jon Gruden was never an easy task, as he was known to eat up QBs and spit them out. But veteran Brad Johnson was the perfect even-keeled mature quarterback who could take Gruden’s personality and complex playbook and succeed. As the lone Bucs QB to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, Johnson and Gruden crossing paths worked out great for each of them.

Johnson was a surprise free agent acquisition by the Buccaneers in Tony Dungy’s final season after spending time in Washington and Minnesota. In his first year with the Buccaneers he broke Tampa Bay team records for passing yards with 3,406 and completions with 340 while taking the Bucs to the playoffs.

In 2002, Johnson led the Bucs to their first and only Super Bowl win, throwing for 3,049 yards with 22 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Johnson also earned a Pro Bowl berth following the 2002 season despite missing two games with a broken bone in his back, becoming just the second Tampa Bay quarterback to earn that distinction (Trent Dilfer, 1997).

Johnson played two more seasons for Gruden and the Bucs and set a franchise record for passing yards in 2003 after throwing for 3,811 yards at age 35. His 570 attempts that season were the most in the NFL that year and the most in team history. Johnson, who was nicknamed “The Bull” due to his toughness in the pocket, ranks fifth on the Bucs’ all-time passing list with 10,940 yards.

Reynolds’ Take: “Johnson was the right quarterback at the right time for the Bucs. Tampa Bay needed a veteran quarterback that could keep up with the frenetic pace set by Gruden and understand his lengthy play calls. On a team full of characters with clashing personalities, he was the constant on offense that kept the Bucs’ ship steering in the right direction. The only thing that prevented Johnson and Gruden combining for more wins in Tampa Bay was his age. Imagine if he joined the Bucs at age 30 instead of 33.”