1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season

The 1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 19th season in the National Football League (NFL). The year began with the death of owner Hugh Culverhouse. Ownership was transferred to a three-man board of trustees. Season ticket sales dwindled, and rumors of the team's location were a persistent distraction all year. At mid-season, the new ownership removed all personnel responsibilities from coach Sam Wyche, and gave them to Vice President Rich McKay, who they named general manager. They also put the team up for sale.^[1] On the field, Errict Rhett became the first rookie in the team's history to rush for 1,000 yards, despite not starting until the ninth game of the season.

1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
Owner	the Hugh Culverhouse estate
General manager	Rich McKay
Head coach	Sam Wyche
Home stadium	Tampa Stadium
Results
Record	6–10
Division place	5th NFC Central
Playoffs	Did not qualify
Team MVP	LT Paul Gruber
← 1993 Buccaneers seasons 1995 →

The Buccaneers had one of the weakest offenses in the league, even while led by a coach who had consistently produced top offenses while with the Cincinnati Bengals.^[2] At 2–9, most people in the Bay area were ready to hang Wyche and pack his bags, but the defensive line improved as Eric Curry finally matured in the second half of the season, and the Bucs began their first 4-game winning streak in 15 years. It started with an overtime win against the Minnesota Vikings. Two wins over the Washington Redskins and one over the Los Angeles Rams set up a big game in Tampa against the Green Bay Packers, who were trying to secure a playoff spot. "We've arrived", Wyche announced prematurely.^[3] The final game was called "Orange Pride Day", and was attended by 65,000 fans (although many were rooting for the visitors), most of whom expected it to be the last football game in Tampa. The Packers won, 34–19.^[1]

Offseason

NFL draft

Pick	Round	Player	Position	School
6	1	Trent Dilfer	Quarterback	Fresno State
34	2	Errict Rhett	Running back	Florida
69	3	Harold Bishop	Tight end	LSU
136	5	Pete Pierson	Offensive tackle	Washington
165	6	Bernard Carter	Linebacker	East Carolina
200	7	Jim Pyne	Center	Virginia Tech

Preseason

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 2–2 in the pre-season, winning their first game against the Bengals at home. After a loss to Seattle Seahawks on the road, the Bucs beat cross state rival Miami Dolphins in game three. The last game of the preseason was lost to the New York Jets by one point. Expectations were for a break even season in 1994.

Personnel

Staff

1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff
Front office Vice president of football administration – Rich McKay Director of player personnel – Jerry Angelo Director of college scouting – Tim Ruskell Head coaches Head coach/director of football operations – Sam Wyche Offensive coaches Quarterbacks – Turk Schonert Running backs – Willie Peete Wide receivers – David Culley Offensive line – Bob Wylie Quality control – Mike Mularkey			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Floyd Peters Defensive line – Ken Clarke Linebackers – Maxie Baughan Defensive backs – Johnnie Lynn Special teams coaches Special teams/tight ends – George Stewart Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Brad Roll

^[4]

Roster

1994 Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 12 Trent Dilfer  7 Craig Erickson 11 Casey Weldon Running backs (RB) 43 Rudy Harris 33 Anthony McDowell FB 32 Errict Rhett 31 Mazio Royster 30 Vernon Turner 46 Vince Workman Wide receivers (WR) 88 Horace Copeland 82 Tyree Davis 80 Lawrence Dawsey 84 Charles Wilson 87 Lamar Thomas Tight ends (TE) 86 Tyji Armstrong 89 Harold Bishop 83 Dave Moore

Offensive linemen (OL) 62 Ian Beckles G 76 Scott Dill T/G 74 Paul Gruber T 79 Sean Love G 61 Tony Mayberry C 70 Charles McRae G/T 69 Pete Pierson T 60 Jim Pyne G 67 Mike Sullivan T Defensive linemen (DL) 72 Chidi Ahanotu DE 73 Brad Culpepper DT 75 Eric Curry DE 71 Santana Dotson DT 90 Milton Jones DE 94 Toddrick McIntosh DE 95 Keith Powe DE 92 Shawn Price DT 77 Mark Wheeler DT 91 Karl Wilson DE

Linebackers (LB) 57 Jeff Brady MLB 27 Barney Bussey OLB 93 Demetrius DuBose OLB 55 Lonnie Marts OLB 56 Hardy Nickerson MLB Defensive backs (DB) 28 Curtis Buckley CB 23 Marty Carter FS 25 Tony Covington SS 39 Charles Dimry CB 22 Thomas Everett FS 26 Rogerick Green CB 47 John Lynch FS 35 Martin Mayhew CB 38 Mike McGruder CB Special teams (ST) 53 Ed Brady LS  5 Michael Husted K  4 Dan Stryzinski P

Practice squad 68 Joel Crisman G 37 Jerry Ellison RB 42 Vidal Mills S Reserve 81 Jackie Harris TE (IR) 85 Courtney Hawkins WR (IR) 45 Tony Stargell CB (IR) 53 active, 3 inactive, 3 practice squad Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Regular season
Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Game site	Attendance	Record
1	September 4	at Chicago Bears	L 21–9	Soldier Field	61,844	0–1
2	September 11	Indianapolis Colts	W 24–10	Tampa Stadium	36,631[a]	1–1
3	September 18	New Orleans Saints	L 9–7	Tampa Stadium	45,522[a]	1–2
4	September 25	at Green Bay Packers	L 30–3	Lambeau Field	58,551	1–3
5	October 2	Detroit Lions	W 24–14	Tampa Stadium	38,012[a]	2–3
6	October 9	at Atlanta Falcons	L 34–13	Georgia Dome	52,633	2–4
7	Bye
8	October 23	at San Francisco 49ers	L 41–16	Candlestick Park	62,741	2–5
9	October 30	Minnesota Vikings	L 36–13	Tampa Stadium	42,110[a]	2–6
10	November 6	Chicago Bears	L 20–6	Tampa Stadium	60,821[a]	2–7
11	November 13	at Detroit Lions	L 14–9	Pontiac Silverdome	50,814	2–8
12	November 20	at Seattle Seahawks	L 22–21	Kingdome	37,466	2–9
13	November 27	at Minnesota Vikings	W 20–17 (OT)	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	47,259	3–9
14	December 4	Washington Redskins	W 26–21	Tampa Stadium	45,121[a]	4–9
15	December 11	Los Angeles Rams	W 24–14	Tampa Stadium	34,150[a]	5–9
16	December 18	at Washington Redskins	W 17–14	RFK Stadium	47,315	6–9
17	December 24	Green Bay Packers	L 34–19	Tampa Stadium	65,076[a]	6–10
Note: Division opponents in bold text

Standings

NFC Central
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
(3) Minnesota Vikings	10	6	0	.625	356	314	W1
(4) Green Bay Packers	9	7	0	.563	382	287	W3
(5) Detroit Lions	9	7	0	.563	357	342	L1
(6) Chicago Bears	9	7	0	.563	271	307	L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	6	10	0	.375	251	351	L1

Season summary

Week 13 at Vikings

Week Thirteen: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2–9) at Minnesota Vikings (7–4)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Buccaneers	7	7	0	3	3	20
Vikings	0	9	0	8	0	17

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Date: November 27, 1994
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Indoors (dome)
• Game attendance: 47,250
• TV: FOX
• Box Score, Box Score

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Buccaneers	Passing	Craig Erickson	20/38, 254 Yds, TD, INT
	Rushing	Errict Rhett	24 Rush, 55 Yds, TD
	Receiving	Courtney Hawkins	6 Rec, 80 Yds, TD
Vikings	Passing	Warren Moon	24/46, 286 Yds, TD, INT
	Rushing	Terry Allen	16 Rush, 54 Yds
	Receiving	Qadry Ismail	6 Rec, 101 Yds, TD

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP TB MIN 1 11:14 3 6 Buccaneers Errict Rhett 1-yard touchdown run, Michael Husted kick good 7 0 2 13:36 12 61 Vikings 23-yard field goal by Fuad Reveiz 7 3 2 8:16 9 49 Vikings 21-yard field goal by Fuad Reveiz 7 6 2 5:13 8 55 Buccaneers Courtney Hawkins 14-yard touchdown reception from Craig Erickson, Michael Husted kick good 14 6 2 0:33 10 53 Vikings 51-yard field goal by Fuad Reveiz 14 9 3 5:24 14 86 Buccaneers -yard field goal by Michael Husted 17 9 4 2:27 3 52 Vikings Qadry Ismail 40-yard touchdown reception from Warren Moon, 2-point pass good 17 17 OT 12:52 1 0 Buccaneers 22-yard field goal by Michael Husted 20 17 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 20 17

Notes

1. blacked out locally