The Ring of Honor at Raymond James Stadium is a sacred place within the Bucs organization. It is a place reserved for the most impactful people in the organization’s history. Those who left an indelible mark upon the fanbase and the community at large.

There are only 14 current members of that esteemed club. Fortunately for the improving legacy of the organization as a whole there are several deserving candidates who have cases for being the next player inducted.

And with all due respect to previous legends like running back James Wilder, Super Bowl XXXVII-winning defensive end Simeon Rice, inside linebacker Hardy Nickerson and even quarterback and Super Bowl LV MVP Tom Brady, the next Bucs Ring of Honor inductee should be another Super Bowl winner, outside linebacker Shaq Barrett, who retired this offseason at age 31 after being released by Tampa Bay and briefly signing with Miami.

The Case For Shaq Barrett On The Field

The Bucs Ring of Honor is more than individual accomplishments and statistics. But they are a part of the resume that needs to be considered. So, let’s tick through some of Barrett’s highlights as a Buccaneer.

He ranks fifth all-time in team history in sacks with 45. His 15 forced fumbles tie him with Warren Sapp for fourth in franchise history and he is eighth in tackles for loss with 48. Those are solid rankings, but not elite.

Warren Sapp and former Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

What is elite is when you break some of those down on a per year basis. Shaq played five seasons with the Bucs. That means he averaged nine sacks, three forced fumbles and 9.6 tackles for loss per year.

Comparing those season averages with the players who rank above him in volume, and you start to see just how comparatively dominant he was. His 9.0 sacks per season are higher than the averages of defensive line greats like Gerald McCoy (6.0), Warren Sapp (8.6) and Hall of Fame edge rusher LeeRoy Selmon (8.9). Only Simeon Rice ranks ahead of him at 11.25 per season.

Barrett also set a new franchise record for sacks in a single season with 19.5, which came in his first year in red and pewter in 2019. He topped Sapp’s previous high of 16.5 (2000), and his 19.5 QB captures led the league that year.

His forced fumbles per season mark is second only to Rice again, and his tackles for loss per year is third to only Rice and Lavonte David. Barrett’s tenure with the Bucs wasn’t the eight-plus years that some other players got to climb the record books, but when he was with the organization he shined as bright on the field as almost all of them.

Barrett made two Pro Bowls with the Bucs in 2019 and also in 2021 after helping the team win Super Bowl LV. Add to that a second team All-Pro selection, and a fourth-place finish for the AP Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019 and he showed plenty well that he has the individual resume worthy of inclusion in the Bucs loftiest of awards. He was also given the team’s franchise tag in 2020, which is rarely bestowed on any player by the Bucs front office – and typically reserved for the best of the best.

Shaq Barrett’s Longevity

Bucs OLB Shaquil Barrett and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes – Photo by: USA Today

Now some might say that his lack of time with the team disqualifies him from consideration. I’d argue that others have proven that if your impact is big enough, lack of longevity can be overlooked.

Doug Williams played just five seasons with the team, and he is in. Tony Dungy coached just six years for the Bucs and he was a shoo-in for induction. Bruce Arians earned his spot after coaching just three seasons in pewter and red. Rice’s case is well-documented despite just six years in Tampa Bay.

Sometimes it’s not about how much time you spend with the one’s you care about, but what memories you create with them. Barrett was integral to helping elevate the Bucs defense in 2019 where they were a Top 10 unit in the back half of the year. He helped improve a roster that eventually lured Tom Brady to choosing the Bucs and becoming the final piece of a championship team.

The team was 42-86 over the eight years prior to his arrival, mired in mediocrity. Since? 48-35. That’s three more wins in three less seasons and a 25% improvement in win percentage.

The 2020 Bucs team will forever be known for their iconic boat parade to celebrate the team’s second Super Bowl. That never happens without Barrett. And who could forget that Super Bowl when Barrett (and the rest of the defense) went off. Tampa Bay’s defense, led by Barrett, held Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs super-offense to just nine points and no touchdowns Barrett played like a man possessed.

Barrett chased Mahomes nearly out of the stadium en route to 10 pressures, including six hurries, three quarterback hits and a sack. It was a Barrett-led defense that put the clamps on the Kansas City machine, preventing them from going back-to-back on championships.

Shaq Barrett – The Person

Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

But it is not just what a player or coach produces in terms of their on-field work that qualifies them for Ring of Honor status. It is often who they are off the field that can amplify their case. In addition to turning around a then-moribund franchise in the late 90’s, Tony Dungy was a humanitarian the fan base could be proud of. A moral center that magnified who he was as a coach.

Warren Sapp was a gregarious character who became the limelight of any room and helped the fans of the Bucs feel as if their organization was being respected at the same level as more established franchises like the Cowboys, Bears and Giants. Bruce Arians had a similar affect as the leader of the most recent version of Tampa Bay. Mike Alstott brought a workman-like personality to every interaction that gave the Tampa Bay community a sense of pride.

Shaq Barrett stands shoulder-to-shoulder with all of those greats in terms of personality. His infectious smile and constant willingness to give what was asked or needed of himself to others. Good game or bad game it did not matter. He was always available for an interview. A quote. A connection.

Bucs CB Christian Izien and OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: USA Today

Barrett also worked back from physical and personal tragedy, never looking for sympathy. But he was able to draw the empathy from everyone around him because you could sense the vastness of the empathy within him. The way he handled both his Achilles injury as well as the death of his daughter within the span of six months, unwavering in his ability to push forward are characteristics of someone who is superhuman.

He did not seem to ignore the challenges and tragedy that had befallen him. He did not dwell on them. Through it all he embraced the impact and used them as a way to help himself, his family and anyone smart enough to pay attention, grow from them.

Shaq Barrett is an amazing Buccaneer as a player, teammate and human. He is more than worthy of induction into the Bucs Ring of Honor. And it is my sincere hope he is bestowed with that honor sooner rather than later.