Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Buccaneers use 347-pound Vita Vea in a crazy role during 'TNF'

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated Dec 11, 2025 10:21 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were in their bag during Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Tampa Bay met Atlanta for this week’s edition of “Thursday Night Football” at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

During the first quarter, the Buccaneers had a 2nd-and-goal play from well inside the one-yard line and decided to get creative.

The Buccaneers called on 347-pound defensive tackle Vita Vea to serve as their fullback for the play. Vea then led the way to the goal line for running back Sean Tucker to punch in the (very) short touchdown.

Vita Vea leading the way for

: #ATLvsTB on Prime Video pic.twitter.com/rga3wvgnch
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 12, 2025

Here is the overhead angle of the play.

Vita Vea at fullback? Good luck

ATLvsTB on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/jQlJBQvJ6Q
— NFL (@NFL) December 12, 2025

The 30-year-old Vea is a career-long defensive player who has done quite well in that regard as a two-time Pro Bowl selection for the Buccaneers as well as a member of their Super Bowl LV-winning team in the 202 season. Considering the extremely short-yardage situation as well as the decline of the traditional fullback around the NFL, that might not be a sight that you ever see again.

With 35.0 career sacks to his name, Vea has clearly found his calling in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball. But that was a nice throwback to Vea’s amateur days as he actually used to be a stud in the running game.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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