Night of nights.
It seems like we were living in a different world.
Five years ago the Bucs actually attacked quarterbacks. Five years ago the Bucs were feared. Five years ago the greatest quarterback not named “Joe Montana” led the Bucs, kicked the franchise squarely in the arse and willed it to be a Super Bowl champion.
Five years ago last night.
What an awesome time that was.
Joe was at that game up in the press box seated next to the Sage of Tampa Bay sports, Ira Kaufman. Joe will never ever forget after the first half in a game where the Bucs throttled the great Pat Mahomes, Ira turned to Joe and yelped about Mahomes, “HE STINKS!” Joe was utterly shocked by Ira’s words.
Joe knew all about how Mahomes was an absolute magician in pulling out wins. Joe never, ever thought the Bucs had the game in the bag, despite the lopsided score, because Joe respected and feared Mahomes that much.
Not until Antoine Winfield flashed the deuce in Cheetah Hill’s grill after an incompletion late did Joe start to feel safe. Then Devin White picked off Mahomes on a tipped pass late in the game.
Watching the confetti pour onto the field as the cannons fired non-stop for what seemed like 15 minutess with the Bucs wildly celebrating seemed absolutely unreal. This was the very same team that just a few months before missed the playoffs (yet again).
The Bucs were the long-running joke of the NFC for a decade and in about nine months were transformed into champions.
What a wild, wild ride that was. And it seemed like only a couple of years ago.
My, how things change so quickly.
Five Years Ago Tonight
SUPERBOWL LV
February 7, 2021
Playing on their home turf — Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, the #Buccaneers steamroll the favored #Chiefs, 31-9.
Appearing in his tenth Super Bowl, Tom Brady wins his seventh ring — both records for a player. With three… pic.twitter.com/Qy3Ow5kOEN
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 7, 2026