Even though we hadn’t seen him on an NFL field for quite a while, there was still some hope that Tampa Bay Buccaneers great Gerald McCoy could come back eventually.
Now, all that hope is gone, as the defensive tackle has officially announced his retirement.
Six-time Pro Bowl DT Gerald McCoy announced that he is retiring from the NFL after 12 seasons.
McCoy was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and spent the first nine years of his career with the #Bucs. An incredible career. pic.twitter.com/LRxosuRlOM
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 14, 2023
McCoy, who was drafted third overall back in the 2010 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma, was one of the most dominant defensive figures in the league early in his career, spending nine years in Tampa before some brief stops with the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, and Las Vegas Raiders.
He was a six-time Pro Bowler during his nine-year tenure at Raymond James Stadium, making it in six consecutive seasons.
That puts him right there with former franchise greats Lee Roy Selmon and Mike Alstott for the most Pro Bowl selections in Buccaneers history, trailing only Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks, with seven and 11, respectively.
That’s why so many Bucs fans rallied on social media to wish him well in life and thank him for all he did in the prime years of his career.
Legend!!! Wish he was on our Championship team so bad! Tampa Bay legend, loved this guy
— 🦅 (@Josheenyoo) April 14, 2023
Congratulations on amazing career my guy 👏🏽👏🏽 he was a beast on the field
— Wise Words from Jules (@Im_DoubleDigits) April 14, 2023
Buccaneers legend
— Joe. Swam son (@merkitroid) April 14, 2023
I thought he would be a Hall of Famer.
— Wu Wei (@Salvato18210648) April 14, 2023
6x pro bowl but fell off hard after those years. Wont even sniff HOF
— Benjamin 🏴 (@Benji_Louis12) April 14, 2023
McCoy was at his best in the 2013 season when he logged a career-best 9.5 sacks.
He wound up retiring with 54.5 sacks overall, the fourth-most in Buccaneers history.
Also, McCoy logged 153 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 297 tackles, 86 tackles for a loss, and 24 passes defended in 123 games (all starts) with the Buccaneers.
Unfortunately, injuries got the best of him in the later stage of his career, and he wasn’t a part of that Super Bowl-winning team.
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Fans React To Bucs LB’s Reported Salary Demands
