2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2023 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 48th in the National Football League (NFL), their tenth under the leadership of general manager Jason Licht and their second under head coach Todd Bowles. Tampa Bay finished 9–8 and won their third consecutive NFC South division title (a franchise best streak). They also made the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, their longest such streak since 1999–2002.
| 2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | The Glazer family |
| General manager | Jason Licht |
| Head coach | Todd Bowles |
| Home field | Raymond James Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 9–8 |
| Division place | 1st NFC South |
| Playoff finish | Won Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Eagles) 32–9 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Lions) 23–31 |
| Pro Bowlers | WR Mike Evans QB Baker Mayfield T Tristan Wirfs |
| AP All-Pros | S Antoine Winfield Jr. (1st team) WR Mike Evans (2nd team) |
| Uniform | |
This was their first season since 2019 without quarterback Tom Brady, after he announced his second retirement from the NFL on February 1, 2023. On March 15, the Buccaneers signed free agent quarterback Baker Mayfield, who subsequently earned the starting job during training camp. For the first time since 2012, Tampa Bay wore their orange throwback uniforms. The Buccaneers donned their "Creamsicle" jerseys and "Bucco Bruce" helmets against Detroit in Week 6.
Tampa Bay got off to a surprising 3–1 start, with wins against the Vikings, Bears, and Saints. They sat in first place in the NFC South during their bye in Week 5. After their bye week, however, they lost four straight, and six out of seven, slipping to 4–7 overall. They suffered last-second losses to both Atlanta and Houston, while rallies at Buffalo, San Francisco, and Indianapolis all came up short. The Buccaneers rebounded, winning five out of their last six games, to improve on their 8–9 record from the previous season. They finished tied with New Orleans, but clinched the division based on best record vs. common opponents. They hosted the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round, a rematch of the Week 3 meeting, and defeated them 32–9. Tampa Bay advanced to the Divisional Round against the Detroit Lions, where they were eliminated in a 31–23 hard fought loss.