Yaya Diaby ‘Super Geeked’ About Haason Reddick Joining Buccaneers

When Haason Reddick signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers, he opted out of some offseason workouts, raising eyebrows, as Dan Pompei of The Athletic pointed out. Reddick’s decision comes after a lackluster 10-game stint with the New York Jets last season.

Like teammate Haason Reddick, Tampa Bay’s Yaya Diaby is expected to get to opposing quarterbacks frequently this season. In a recent SiriusXM NFL Radio appearance, Diaby downplayed concerns about Reddick’s dedication, reassuring Buccaneers fans.

“Man, I’m super geeked to have a guy like Haason, you know, it’s just so amazing to see how hungry he is,” Diaby said, as reported by the JoeBucsFan website. “Everybody kind of turned away from him because of all the things that he’s been through with the Jets, but he’s still got that hunger even though he’s up in age. He still has that hunger. Having a guy like that on the other side and then having [Calijah Kancey] and [defensive tackle Vita Vea] in the middle, man, I’m super geeked for what this team got in store.”

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When the Jets acquired Haason Reddick from the Eagles in spring 2024, then-GM Joe Douglas apparently thought Reddick would play out his existing contract. However, Reddick held out until mid-October, when the sides negotiated a restructured one-year deal.

The Jets’ defense never bounced back from the coaching change that saw Head Coach Robert Saleh replaced by Jeff Ulbrich, and Haason Reddick’s tenure was marked by a disappointing single sack. This contrasted sharply with his successful stint with the Eagles, where he earned consecutive Pro Bowl nods.

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If Haason Reddick elevates the Buccaneers’ defense, a potent offense could propel the team to a deep playoff run, potentially reaching the NFC Championship Game. Notably, Dan Pompei observed that Reddick “appears to be in his athletic prime” and has been mentoring younger pass-rushers on the team.