Bama in the NFL: Two Crimson Tide Names Stand Out With Tampa Bay Buccaneers

From Ray Perkins to Mike Washington, Alabama's history with the NFL franchise has been far-reaching.

Author:
Christopher Walsh
Publish date:
Aug 24, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

In this story:

When it comes to individuals who made an impact on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the top candidate may not have done so as a player, but as a coach. Of course, we're talking about Ray Perkins.

After his playing days were complete, Perkins was an assistant with the New England Patriots (1973-77) and San Diego Chargers (1978), before being named the head coach of the New York Giants in 1979. Two members of his staff were Bill Parcells, who eventually replaced him, and Bill Belichick.

What promoted his departure was his dream job, coaching the Crimson Tide, which became reality shortly after Paul W. “Bear” Bryant resigned in 1982. Those who didn’t understand him, or Alabama football, were shocked when Perkins left New York, especially to undertake the nearly impossible task of attempting to follow Bryant.

His first season resulted in an 8-4 finish. A year later, Alabama’s amazing 25-year bowl streak came to a close, and there were murmurs that the coach may not be around along in Tuscaloosa. They grew to a new level, and for different reasons by the end of the 1986 season, when rumors began to circulate that Perkins might leave to take over as both head coach and general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He initially denied them, but the scuttlebutt only gained momentum while Alabama headed to the Sun Bowl to handily defeat Washington, 28-6. Perkins resigned after the dominating victory with a 32-15-1 record over four years.

“I do so with mixed emotions,” Perkins said.

He led the Buccaneers from 1987-90, and while Perkins gave opportunities to some of his former players, like linebacker Keith McCants, he never won more than five games in Tampa Bay. After he was fired midway through the 1990 season, his offensive coordinator, another former Alabama player, Richard Williamson, was named head coach.

To this day, Perkins is the only head coach to leave Alabama for the same position with an NFL team.

In terms of on-the-field success, the Buccaneers have had some name Crimson Tide players over the years including Charley Hannah, Jeremiah Castille, Eric Curry, and last season Julio Jones. The one with the most impressive career with the organization, though, was cornerback Mike Washington.

Although a third-round pick by the Colts in the 1975 draft, Washington was acquired in a trade and went on to pretty much play in the franchise's first 100 games, including 97 starts, from 1976-84. He had 28 interceptions, including a career-high six in 1981, and scored four touchdowns, three on interception returns and one on a blocked field goal return in 1978.

Washington is still fourth on the team's career interceptions list:

Name, Years, Games, Interceptions

Ronde Barber, 1997-12, 241, 47
Donnie Abraham, 1996-01, 92, 31
Cedric Brown, 1976-84, 100, 29
Mike Washington, 1976-84, 100, 28

Bama in the NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Franchise

National Football Conference

South Division

Team Colors: Red, Pewter, Orange & Black

Founded: 1974, first played as expansion team in 1976

Stadium: Raymond James Stadium (capacity 65,844)

Playing Surface: Grass

Training Camp: AdventHealth Training Center, Tampa, Fla.

All-Time Alabama Players

Mark Barron, DB, 2012 - 2014
Byron Braggs, DE, 1984
Anthony Bryant, DT, 2005
Jeremiah Castille, DB, 1983 - 1986
Eric Curry, DE, 1993 - 1997
Kenneth Darby, RB, 2007
Johnny Davis, RB 1978 - 1980
Ricky Davis, DB, 1976
Kerry Goode, RB, 1988
Charley Hannah, OG, 1977 - 1982
Patrick Hape, TE, 1997 - 2000
Paul Harris, LB, 1977 - 1978
O.J. Howard, TE, 2017 - 2021
Curt Jarvis, DT, 1987 - 1990
Hoss Johnson, T, 1987
Julio Jones, WR, 2022
E.J. Junior, LB, 1992
Keith McCants, DE, 1990 - 1992
Chris Mohr, P, 1989
Greg Richardson, WR, 1988
Dwayne Rudd, LB, 2003
Van Tiffin, K, 1987
Carson Tinker, LS, 2021
Paul Tripoli, DB, 1987
Mike Washington, DB, 1976 - 1984
Willie Wyatt, DT, 1990

Former Alabama cornerback Mike Washington

Crimson Tide Drafted Players


Year	Player	Pos.	Round	Pick	Overall
1977	Charles Hannah	CB	3	1	57
1978	Johnny Davis	RB	2	2	30
1983	Jeremiah Castille	CB	3	16	72
1987	Curt Jarvis	DT	7	1	169
1987	Mike Shula	QB	12	6	313
1988	Kerry Goode	RB	7	2	167
1989	Chris Mohr	P	6	7	146
1990	Keith McCants	LB	1	4	4
1993	Eric Curry	DE	1	6	6
1997	Patrick Hape	TE	5	7	137
2005	Anthony Bryant	DT	6	4	178
2007	Kenneth Darby	RB	7	36	246
2012	Mark Barron	S	1	7	7
2017	O.J. Howard	TE	1	19	19

Super Bowl Appearances

Super Bowl LV (Feb. 7, 2021)

Playing in their home stadium, Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski connected for two touchdowns as the Buccaneers dominated the Chiefs, 31-9. Brady won his seventh Super Bowl ring. Tight end O.J. Howard was on the Tampa Bay roster.

Major Awards/Honors

All-Pro

None

Pro Bowl

None

In conjunction with our revamped Bama in the NFL Database, this is the 30th story in a series examining the team-by-team history of Alabama's former players in the NFL.

AFC