Arians Fuels Super Bowl Talk for Buccaneers After Busy Offseason

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David recently stated that despite their wild card playoff loss to the Washington Commanders in January, his team had the talent to make a deep run to Super Bowl LIX.

On Tuesday’s edition of The Pat and Aaron Show on WDAE, Bruce Arians, senior advisor for the Buccaneers, was asked if he believes the team is nearing a return to the Super Bowl.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt,” Arians said. “We just got to stay healthy. You know, we had all those injuries in the same position last year at defensive back. But if we stay healthy, I don’t think there’s any doubt the sky’s the limit for this football team. I mean, we got great camaraderie. It’s great energy in that building. And guys are really pulling for each other. So yeah, I think this is going to be a great year.”

According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Buccaneers missed 201 games due to injury last season, tying for seventh-most in the NFL. Despite this, Tampa Bay secured the NFC South title with a 10-7 record and led the playoff game against the Commanders until a critical turnover shifted momentum with about 12 minutes left in regulation.

The Buccaneers have taken steps to bolster their roster, notably signing pass-rusher Haason Reddick in free agency to address a key defensive need. They also re-signed wide receiver Chris Godwin to keep their offense intact and further strengthened their receiving corps by drafting Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka with the 19th overall pick in the 2025 draft.

Tampa Bay’s chances are also boosted by having Baker Mayfield, who appears to be the division’s top starting quarterback, especially compared to the Falcons’ Michael Penix Jr., Panthers’ Bryce Young, and Saints’ Tyler Shough.