On April 27, 2013, the Bucs spent their second fourth-round pick of the day on Michigan State’s Will Gholston. Now, nearly 11 years later, Gholston is finishing up his 11th season in the NFL. And they’ve all been in Tampa Bay.

Having been in red, white and pewter for almost 11 years, Gholston has earned himself an impressive place in franchise history.

In last Sunday’s game against the Panthers at Raymond James Stadium the 32-year-old Gholston passed Bucs Ring of Honor member and Pro Football Hall of Famer John Lynch for the sixth-most games played in team history. He has suited up 165 times — and counting — for the Bucs.

“It’s awesome,” Gholston said. “He might end up being a dual Hall of Famer [as a player and a general manager] (laughs).”

Gholston has been a remarkably consistent presence for the Bucs over the years. He missed a couple of games here and there early in his career, but he has played in every regular season game since the start of the 2018 season. In fact, last Sunday marked 100 straight games played for Gholston dating back to Week 12 of the 2017 season.

Will Gholston’s Longevity In Tampa Bay Is Significant

Bucs DT Will Gholston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

An 11-year career that spans 165 games — including 100 straight over the last six years — represents some remarkable longevity for Will Gholston. That’s impressive longevity not just in Tampa, but in the league as a whole. That’s not lost on big No. 92.

“When I first got into the league, they told me the [career] expectancy rate was two and a half years,” Gholston said. “So just to be able to be blessed to play, and then be for the same franchise, hopefully it attests to the man and player that I am.”

It does attest to the man and player Gholston is. He has provided the Bucs with being a reliable guy not only on the field and inside the locker room for over a decade, but also in the community. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Bucs’ 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee continued his annual Thanksgiving tradition of giving out turkeys in Tampa and back home in Detroit.

He’s been a force in the community since day one of his career, and his commitment to giving back has never wavered.

Will Gholston Among Rare Company In Bucs’ Locker Room

Bucs DE William Gholston – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Will Gholston may not be the longest-tenured Buc on the Tampa Bay roster, but he’s in rare company as far as lifelong Bucs go. Lavonte David was drafted one year ahead of Gholston, making him the longest-tenured Buccaneer. Because David is still active, Gholston knows he’ll have a hard time catching the legendary linebacker for fifth on the team’s all-time games played list. David has played 176 games and counting in a Tampa Bay uniform.

Nonetheless, both guys have been mainstays over the last decade, and that means they’ve spent a whole lot of time together over the years.

Everyone knows the stages that can come with being around the same family member, friend or colleague for a prolonged period of time. There’s plenty of fun and laughs, and there’s an underlying bond that remains through it all.

But too much exposure can take you back to your younger days. You know, back when you and your sibling would bicker and poke at each other? When you used years of knowledge about the little annoyances and pet peeves that your sibling has to draw a reaction out of them?

Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

That seems to be the point where Gholston and David are in their relationship — at least according to Gholston.

“It’s been cool, but lately he’s been bullying me. He’s been knocking my things out of my locker. Make sure you put this in the interview,” Gholston said jokingly. “He’s been knocking things out of my locker and stuff, calling me names, trying to pick on me because I’m bigger than him.”

Jokes aside, Gholston and David have seen the lowest of lows and highest of highs during their time with the Bucs, from a 2-14 2014 season to the Super Bowl LV victory to cap off the 2020 season. They’ve also seen a few different iterations of Tampa Bay’s uniforms over the years, going from the classic red and pewter to the “alarm clock” era and back to a modernized version of the classics.

Another player who joins David and Gholston as longtime Bucs to see the lows and the highs is wide receiver Mike Evans. David is in Year 12, Gholston is in Year 11 and Evans is in Year 10.

Bucs DE Will Gholston and OLB Anthony Nelson – Photo by: USA Today

Evans has the ninth-most games played in Bucs history (149). If he plays the final five games of this season and re-signs with the team in the offseason, Evans will have a chance to catch Gholston. And that, Gholston joked, is almost enough to erase the excitement of moving ahead of a legend like John Lynch last week.

“I’m Year 11, he’s Year 10,” Gholston said. “That means he’s going to catch me. Damn, I don’t even know how excited about it I am anymore.”

Gholston should be excited about it. Year 11 wasn’t always a given, and the veteran signing back on in July — just at the start of training camp — allowed him to cement a special place in Bucs history. And in the same way that he has a place in franchise history, the city of Tampa has a special place in his heart.

“I’ll always be from Detroit,” Gholston said. “But Tampa is my home.”