2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
| 2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Jon Gruden |
| Owner | Malcolm Glazer |
| Home field | Raymond James Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 9–7 |
| Division place | 3rd NFC South |
| Playoff finish | did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers |
4
|
| AP All-Pros | KR Clifton Smith (2nd team) |
| Uniform | |
 |
|
The 2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the 33rd season for the club in the National Football League. Though the team finished with a winning record (9–7), they failed to defend their 2007 NFC South championship and did not qualify for the playoffs after finishing the year on a four-game losing streak. Just weeks after the conclusion of the regular season, head coach Jon Gruden was fired, a move that came as a surprise both to sports writers and Gruden himself. General manager Bruce Allen was also fired.
The failure of the Buccaneers to return to the Super Bowl marked the 24th consecutive year in which the Super Bowl did not include the team in whose region the game was being played, also it set off the beginning of an active playoff drought lasting from 2008 to present, in which the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have failed to enter the postseason as of 2015.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers resigned free agents Michael Bennett (cut November 12), Kevin Carter, Antoine Cash, Sammy Davis, Jerramy Stevens. On June 11, the team settled with estranged quarterback Jake Plummer for $3.5 million.
Free agent acquisitions include former team players Warrick Dunn (Falcons) and Brian Griese (Bears).
Tampa Bay's offseason gained attention when they expressed interest in free agent quarterback Brett Favre. After Favre signed with the Jets, tension was reported between head coach Jon Gruden and incumbent quarterback Jeff Garcia. Garcia was recovering from a preseason injury, but was still named the starter. After dropping the season opener, Garcia was benched in favor of Brian Griese.
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