The 1990 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the franchise's 15th season in the National Football League.
Head coach Ray Perkins and Bucs players were getting criticized by fans with his 3-a-day training camp practices. Leaving many players complaining of fatigue late in the year, and with injuries that never really healed themselves throughout the end of the season.
Still, after starting 4–2 via four wins against divisional opponents, the Buccaneers dropped two out of three games to a weak Dallas Cowboys team. Later in the year, quarterback Vinny Testaverde and receiver Willie Drewrey combined on an 89-yard touchdown pass in week 13 for the longest play in franchise history. Coach Perkins was fired after that game and the team fell short of a possible break even season with two losses to end the season, although the 6–10 record was Tampa Bay's best since 1984, John McKay's last season as coach.
Offensive coordinator Richard Williamson was made head coach for the 1991 season based on a 1–2 record. Tax records showed the Buccaneers were one of the most profitable teams during this time, even though owner Hugh Culverhouse announced the Bucs were losing money and needed to play games in Orlando, Florida to gain income.
The Buccaneers officially finished second in the NFC Central thanks to their 5–3 divisional record. The other three teams in the division who went 6–10 — the Lions, Packers and Vikings — all went 3–5 in division games (Tampa Bay went 5-1 against that trio, sweeping Detroit and Minnesota). The second-place finish was their highest since winning the division in 1981, and would be their highest until 1997.
Offseason
NFL draft Pick Round Player Position School4Round 1Keith McCantsLinebackerAlabama30Round 2Reggie CobbRunning BackTennessee87Round 4Jess AndersonTight EndMississippi State108Round 4Tony MayberryCenterWake Forest114Round 5Ian BecklesGuardIndiana141Round 6Derrick DouglasRunning BackLouisiana Tech171Round 7Donnie GardnerDefensive EndKentucky224Round 9Terry CookDefensive EndFresno State254Round 10Mike BuschTight EndIowa State281Round 11Terry AnthonyWide ReceiverFlorida State307Round 12Todd HammelQuarterbackStephen F. Austin
Roster Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1990 roster Quarterbacks Jeff Carlson Chris Chandler Vinny Testaverde
Running backs Gary Anderson Reggie Cobb Derrick Douglas John Harvey Bruce Perkins FB
Wide receivers Mark Carrier Willie Drewrey Chris Ford Bruce Hill Frank Pillow
Tight ends Jesse Anderson Ron Hall Offensive linemen Carl Bax G Ian Beckles G John Bruhin G Randy Grimes C Paul Gruber T Tom McHale G Tony Mayberry C Harry Swayne T Rob Taylor T
Defensive linemen John Cannon DE Reuben Davis DE Benji Roland DE Jim Skow DE Robb White NT Willie Wyatt NT Linebackers Sidney Coleman ILB Eugene Marve ILB Keith McCants OLB Winston Moss ILB/OLB Kevin Murphy OLB Ervin Randle ILB Broderick Thomas OLB
Defensive backs Eric Everett CB Wayne Haddix CB Harry Hamilton FS Odie Harris CB Ricky Reynolds CB Rodney Rice CB Mark Robinson SS
Special teams Sam Anno LS Steve Christie K Mark Royals P Reserve lists Scott Dill G (IR) Curt Jarvis NT (IR) Retired Tim Newton NT (IR) Danny Peebles WR/KR (IR)
Practice squad Terry Anthony WR Daryl Reed S Ed Thomas TE
47 active, 4 inactive, 3 practice squad
rookies in italics
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Game site Record Attendance 1 September 9 at Detroit Lions W 38–21 Pontiac Silverdome 1–0 56,692 2 September 16 Los Angeles Rams L 35–14 Tampa Stadium 1–1 59,705 3 September 23 Detroit Lions W 23–20 Tampa Stadium 2–1 55,075 4 September 30 at Minnesota Vikings W 23–20(OT) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 3–1 54,462 5 October 7 at Dallas Cowboys L 14–10 Texas Stadium 3–2 60,076 6 October 14 Green Bay Packers W 26–14 Tampa Stadium 4–2 67,472 7 October 21 Dallas Cowboys L 17–13 Tampa Stadium 4–3 68,315 8 October 28 at San Diego Chargers L 41–10 Jack Murphy Stadium 4–4 40,653 9 November 4 Chicago Bears L 26–6 Tampa Stadium 4–5 68,555 10 November 11 at New Orleans Saints L 35–7 Louisiana Superdome 4–6 67,865 11 November 18 at San Francisco 49ers L 31–7 Candlestick Park 4–7 62,221 12 November 25 at Green Bay Packers L 20–10 Milwaukee County Stadium 4–8 53,677 13 December 2 Atlanta Falcons W 23–17 Tampa Stadium 5–8 42,839 14 Bye 15 December 16 Minnesota Vikings W 26–13 Tampa Stadium 6–8 47,272 16 December 23 at Chicago Bears L 27–14 Soldier Field 6–9 46,456 17 December 30 New York Jets L 16–14 Tampa Stadium 6–10 46,543 Notes: Division opponents in bold text
Standings
References
Buccaneers on Pro Football Reference