Buccaneers great Gerald McCoy retires from NFL

It looks like Tom Brady won't be the only player with huge ties to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to retire this offseason. After nine years playing for the Bucs and then two others with the Raiders and the Panthers, defensive lineman Gerald McCoy has finally announced his retirement from football. McCoy has officially ended his […]

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Dec 25, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view of a Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It looks like Tom Brady won't be the only player with huge ties to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to retire this offseason.

After nine years playing for the Bucs and then two others with the Raiders and the Panthers, defensive lineman Gerald McCoy has finally announced his retirement from football.

McCoy has officially ended his Buccaneers career with six Pro Bowl selections, one All-Pro, 54.5 sacks, 79 tackles for loss, and 154 quarterback hits.

It's hard to find a lot of players that have found more statistical success with the franchise during a similar time frame.

This news officially ends the idea that McCoy could make a return to the Bucs to finish his career, but it does solidify the former first-round pick as one of the best players in franchise history.

The Ring of Honor makes sense as the next likely steps for a player that spent so much time with a team and found so much individual success, even if the team as a whole struggled for most of that duration.

One way or another, this marks the end of a career for a Buccaneer legend.