Jon Gruden Previews 2025 Bucs: 'I Love The Buccaneers'

That includes discussing the current state of the organization. Their most successful five-year run in franchise history has “Chucky” feeling as optimistic as ever about his former squad in 2025.

“I still love the Buccaneers,” Gruden said previewing the team. “I can’t help it; I spent seven years there. Here’s a team that has really dominated the NFC South. They’ve won four straight division titles, and head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht have done a terrific job. They both just got a contract extension – well deserved. The Bucs are bringing back predominantly the same roster. They have added some players on both sides of the ball, but nobody in the NFL has had more starts from home-drafted players than general manager Jason Licht.

“Give the man credit. He’s done a great job drafting players, and they’ve done a terrific job spending wisely in free agency. Three straight division titles for Todd Bowles. He’s done it with three different offensive coordinators. This year, it’ll be Josh Grizzard at the helm calling plays. That’s a big reason why you get a contract extension.”

With Licht and Bowles extended, the Bucs have kept continuity not just in player personnel, but in who is running and managing the team from top to bottom. While things are looking up, Gruden went on to describe a 2024 season full of ups and downs.

“The Bucs went 4-2 in the division last year,” Gruden continued by saying. “They were swept by the Atlanta Falcons. Matter of fact, Atlanta shredded them in both games. [Bowles] is a defensive head coach… they get after the pocket. They blitz a lot. They’re an aggressive team on both sides of the ball. Fun to watch. They had a roller coaster season last year.

“They started off impressively. They pounded the Philadelphia Eagles at home. Then they went on the road, beat Detroit and then had a rash of injuries, [losing] four straight games. The Ravens, the Chiefs, the Falcons, the 49ers. Four straight losses. But credit Todd Bowles for having mental toughness. This team regrouped, won six out of seven games, and they captured their fourth straight title.”

After winning the NFC South, Tampa Bay was dealt a heartbreaking, 23-20 loss to the Commanders during the NFC Wild Card round. Seeing the team lack a “killer identity” closing out the game, changes had to be made during the offseason out of necessity.

Jon Gruden Shares His Thoughts On Bucs Offseason

The hunger that the Bucs have to build off last season has been prevalent so far during training camp.

Just ask safety Antoine Winfield Jr. – or any other team captain.

Winning will satiate Tampa Bay’s desires, but that will only come from notable improvement within and what the newcomers add.

“I know Tampa Bay’s primed and ready,” Jon Gruden said. “They have done a nice job adding players here in free agency. Keep an eye on Hassan Reddick. This guy had over 20 sacks in two seasons at Philly. I know he was awful quiet last year with the Jets after the contract holdout. They also brought in Riley Dixon, a really good punter. They struggled in net punt; they were last in the league a year ago.”

Those were the big free-agent acquisitions, but another productive season saw them lose their offensive playcaller. As has been the routine in recent seasons, Todd Bowles, Jason Licht and the front office got to work in finding a replacement to lead the offense while also extracting as value as they could in the NFL Draft.

The 2025 draft class is no different, especially at the top.

“Keep an eye on new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard,” Gruden added. “He’s a young guy. The guy comes out of Yale. He’s a lot smarter than me, I know that. They also had a great draft. They drafted Emeka Egbuka, great receiver out of Ohio State, man. Back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. I think he’s the all-time leading receiver yards wise at OSU. Hell of a player.

“They also got two corners. I really like Benjamin Morrison out of Notre Dame. Nine picks the last two seasons. He was hurt last year and that’s why he slipped into the second round. Then they get this Jacob Parrish guy. Not a big guy, but a hell of a playmaker who can play the nickel slot corner. The Bucs added two good corners and a hell of a wideout.”

Most teams lose notable players every offseason. For the Bucs, the biggest loss came when Liam Coen left town to take a head coaching job across the state in Jacksonville.

“They lost some players, but nobody that you’re going to just have a jaw drop like, ‘Oh, we lost him.’ They lost former first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. Long time defensive tackle William Gholston is gone and a couple backup offensive lineman. Perhaps the biggest loss is Liam Coen, who came out of nowhere in his first year calling plays to get the Jacksonville Jaguars job.”

Overall, Jon Gruden believes the additions far outweigh the subtractions and the moves other teams in the NFC South made. That is why he believes the Bucs will continue to lead the division and could enter the playoffs playing their best football.

“Think about the Bucs last six games, will ya?” Gruden said. “Think about this, they’re going to have a hell of a football team, you’ll see. But their last six games? They have three straight home games, home against Arizona, home against New Orleans, and home against Atlanta. That’s pretty damn good. Then they got a road game at Carolina, a road game at Miami, and they finish at home against Carolina. Now I’m not one of these guys that goes on TV and goes win, loss, win, win, loss, loss – 12-4, next team. That’s a very favorable schedule for a four-time division champion and a badass head coach with Baker Mayfield at quarterback. I like the Bucs.”

Watch Super Bowl-Winning Head Coach Jon Gruden Preview The 2025 Bucs:

To catch Jon Gruden’s full breakdown of the 2025 Bucs, including his thoughts about each position group on offense and defense and what former NFL quarterback Rich Gannon had to say about quarterback Baker Mayfield, you can watch it below.