The 1997

1997 NFL season

The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Oilers relocated from Houston, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee...

 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...

 season began with the team trying to improve on a 6-10 season from 1996. The 1997 season was notable for several reasons. For the first time, the Buccaneers wore their new pewter and red uniforms, along with their new "flag and skull" helmets, which replaced the orange and white color combination, and winking buccaneer helmet, that they had used since they were first added to the NFL. During the regular season, the Buccaneers surprised many by starting off with a 5-0 record. By the end of the season, they had amassed a record of 10-6 and went to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. After beating the Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...

 20-10 in the Wild Card round, they lost to the eventual NFC Champion Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...

 in the Divisional Playoffs 21-7.

Staff

1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff
Front Office Owner/President – Malcolm Glazer Malcolm Glazer Malcolm Irving Glazer is an American businessman and sports team owner. He is the president and chief executive officer of First Allied Corporation, a holding company for his varied business interests, most notably in the food processing industry... General Manager – Rich McKay Rich McKay Rich McKay is the president, CEO, and former general manager of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they won Super Bowl XXXVII.-Early years:... Director of Player Personnel – Jerry Angelo Jerry Angelo Jerry Angelo is the General Manager for the National Football League's Chicago Bears. He has held the role since 2001. Prior to joining the Chicago Bears, Angelo spent 14 years overseeing Tampa Bay Buccaneers' scouting department as their Director of Player Personnel... Director of College Scouting – Tim Ruskell Tim Ruskell Tim Ruskell is a current assistant general manager for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League.Ruskell was born in Sagamiono, Japan where his father was stationed in the United States Army but spent his high school and college years in the Tampa Bay, Florida area and graduated with a... Head Coaches Head Coach – Tony Dungy Tony Dungy Anthony Kevin "Tony" Dungy [DUN-jee] is a former professional American football player and coach in the National Football League. Dungy was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 to 2008... Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs – Herman Edwards Herman Edwards Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN... Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator – Mike Shula Mike Shula Mike Shula is an American football quarterback coach for the Carolina Panthers, an NFL team. Between 2003 and 2006, he was the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program.- Early life :... Running Backs – Tony Nathan Tony Nathan Tony Curtis Nathan is an American football coach and former running back.Nathan was a running back from Alabama who was selected in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, with whom he played from 1979-1987... Wide Receivers – Charlie Williams Tight Ends – Clyde Christensen Clyde Christensen Clyde Christensen is the current offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He has been a coach for the Colts since 2002.-External links:*... Offensive Line – Chris Foerster Chris Foerster Chris Foerster is currently the offensive line coach for the Washington Redskins. He was the offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins in 2004.Foerster was hired by the San Francisco 49ers on February 15, 2008 as the co-offensive line coach... Offensive Assistant – Ricky Thomas			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator – Monte Kiffin Monte Kiffin Monte Kiffin is an American football coach. He is widely considered to be one of the preeminent defensive coordinators in modern football, as well as one of the greatest defensive coordinators in NFL history... Defensive Line – Rod Marinelli Rod Marinelli Rodney Marinelli is the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach of the Chicago Bears. He is the former head coach of the Detroit Lions... Linebackers – Lovie Smith Lovie Smith Lovie Lee Smith is the head coach of the Chicago Bears professional football team of the NFL. Smith has been to the Super Bowl twice, as the defensive coordinator for the 2001 Saint Louis Rams and as the head coach for the Chicago Bears in 2006.... Defensive Assistant – Kevin O’Dea Special Teams Coaches Special Teams – Joe Marciano Strength and Conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Mark Asanovich Strength and Conditioning Assistant – Aaron Komarek

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Stadium	Attendance
1	August 31, 1997	San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... *	W 13-6	Houlihan Stadium	62,554
2	September 7, 1997	at Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...	W 24-17	Pontiac Silverdome Silverdome The Silverdome is an indoor sporting and entertainment venue located in Launceston, Tasmania built in 1984. The Silverdome was built at an estimated cost of A$4 million, as the Tasmanian Government "proposed a world class facility" to replace the run down velodrome in the Launceston suburb of St...	58,234
3	September 14, 1997	at Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...	W 28-14	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...	63,697
4	September 21, 1997	Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 31-21	Houlihan Stadium	73,314
5	September 28, 1997	Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... *	W 19-18	Houlihan Stadium	53,804
6	October 5, 1997	at Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...	L 21-16	Lambeau Field Lambeau Field Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...	60,100
7	October 12, 1997	Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... *	L 27-9	Houlihan Stadium	72,095
8	Bye
9	October 26, 1997	Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... *	L 10-6	Houlihan Stadium	66,815
10	November 2, 1997	at Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....	W 31-28	RCA Dome RCA Dome RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons ....	58,512
11	November 9, 1997	at Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 31-10	Georgia Dome Georgia Dome The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...	46,018
12	November 16, 1997	New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...	W 27-7	Houlihan Stadium	70,479
13	November 23, 1997	at Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	L 13-7	Soldier Field Soldier Field Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...	43,955
14	November 30, 1997	at New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 20-8	Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...	68,678
15	December 7, 1997	Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...	L 17-6	Houlihan Stadium	73,523
16	December 14, 1997	at New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...	L 31-0	The Meadowlands Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...	60,122
17	December 21, 1997	Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...	W 31-15	Houlihan Stadium	70,930

• = blacked out locally

Standings

NFC Central
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
Green Bay Packers 1997 Green Bay Packers season The 1997 Green Bay Packers season concluded with the team winning its second consecutive NFC championship, but losing in a 31-24 upset to John Elway's Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII...	13	3	0	.813	422	282
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	10	6	0	.625	299	263
Detroit Lions 1997 Detroit Lions season The 1997 season marked the Lions qualifying for the playoffs. Bobby Ross replaced Wayne Fontes as head coach. The highlight of the season was Barry Sanders becoming the third player in NFL history to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a season.-Staff:...	9	7	0	.563	379	306
Minnesota Vikings 1997 Minnesota Vikings season 1997 was the 37th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Vikings finished with a record of nine wins and seven losses. Their record was good enough to qualify for a wild card berth...	9	7	0	.563	354	359
Chicago Bears 1997 Chicago Bears season The 1997 Chicago Bears season was their 78th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 4-12 record under head coach Dave Wannstedt. It was the club's first 4 win season since the club posted a 4-10 record in 1975.-Schedule:...	4	12	0	.250	263	421

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1997 roster

Player	POS	G	GS	Birthdate	College
Donnie Abraham	DB	16	16	10/08/1973	East Tennessee State
Chidi Ahanotu	DE	16	15	10/11/1970	California
Mike Alstott	RB	15	15	12/21/1973	Purdue
Reidel Anthony	WR	16	13	10/20/1976	Florida
Ronde Barber	DB	1	0	4/07/1975	Virginia
Tommy Barnhardt	P	6	0	6/11/1963	North Carolina
Greg Bellisari	LB	14	0	6/21/1975	Ohio State
Tony Bouie	DB	16	1	8/07/1972	Arizona
Derrick Brooks	LB	16	16	4/18/1973	Florida State
Horace Copeland	WR	13	11	1/02/1971	Miami
Brad Culpepper	DT	16	16	5/08/1969	Florida
Eric Curry	DE	6	1	2/03/1970	Alabama
John Davis	TE	8	2	5/14/1973	Emporia State
Jorge Diaz	OG	16	16	11/15/1973	Texas A&M-Kingsville
Trent Dilfer	QB	16	16	3/13/1972	Fresno State
Kevin Dogins	C	0	0	12/07/1972	Texas A&M-Kingsville
Warrick Dunn	RB	16	10	1/05/1975	Florida State
Jerry Ellison	RB	16	0	12/20/1971	Tennessee-Chattanooga
Kenneth Grant	DB	9	0	4/18/1967	Albany State
Jeff Gooch	LB	14	5	10/31/1974	Austin Peay
Paul Gruber	OT	16	16	2/24/1965	Wisconsin
Patrick Hape	TE	14	3	6/06/1974	Alabama
Jackie Harris	TE	12	11	1/04/1968	Northeastern Louisiana
Brice Hunter	WR	3	0	4/21/1974	Georgia
Michael Husted	K	16	0	6/16/1970	Virginia
Tyoka Jackson	DE	12	0	11/22/1971	Penn State
Melvin Johnson	DB	16	7	4/15/1972	Kentucky
Marcus Jones	DE	7	1	8/15/1973	North Carolina
Andrew Jordan	TE	2	0	6/21/1972	Western Carolina
Sean Landeta	P	10	0	1/06/1962	Towson
Tyrone Legette	DB	16	1	2/15/1970	Nebraska
John Lynch	DB	16	16	9/25/1971	Stanford
Jason Maniecki	DT	10	0	8/15/1972	Wisconsin
Tony Mayberry	C	16	16	12/08/1967	Wake Forest
Frank Middleton	OG	15	2	10/25/1974	Arizona
Charles Mincy	DB	16	9	12/16/1969	Washington
Dave Moore	TE	16	7	11/11/1969	Pitturgh
Hardy Nickerson	LB	16	16	9/01/1965	California
Jason Odom	OT	16	16	3/31/1974	Florida
Anthony Parker	DB	15	14	2/11/1966	Arizona State
Pete Pierson	OT	15	0	2/04/1971	Washington
Rufus Porter	LB	11	10	5/18/1965	Southern
Jim Pyne	Og	15	14	11/23/1961	Virginia Tech
Shelton Quarles	LB	16	0	9/11/1971	Vanderbilt
Eric Rhett	RB	11	0	12/11/1970	Florida
Reggie Rusk	DB	4	0	10/19/1972	Kentucky
Warren Sapp	DT	15	15	12/19/1972	Miami
Alshermond Singleton	LB	12	0	8/07/1975	Temple
Robb Thomas	WR	16	1	3/29/1966	Oregon State
Regan Upshaw	DE	15	15	8/12/1975	California
Steve Walsh	QB	12	0	12/01/1996	Miami
Steve White	DE	15	1	10/25/1973	Tennessee
Karl Williams	WR	16	7	4/10/1971	Texas A&M-Kingsville
Jerry Wunsch	OT	16	0	1/21/1974	Wisconsin
Floyd Young	DB	12	1	11/23/1975	Texas A&M-Kingsville

Playoffs

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Stadium	Attendance
Wildcard	December 28, 1997	Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...	W 20-10	Houlihan's Stadium	73,361
Division	January 4, 1998	at Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...	L 21-7	Lambeau Field Lambeau Field Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...	60,327