After Joining Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes, Warren Sapp Highlights Buccaneers’ Mount Rushmore as NFL Releases Top Tampa Bay Stars

Boulder! That’s the place where two Pro Football Hall of Famers are coaching athletes who aspire to get into the NFL. Yes, we are talking about Deion Sanders and Warren Sapp. In April, Prime Time enlisted the 51-year-old Sapp as a graduate assistant at the Buffs. So he can directly work with the team on the field and put his 13-year NFL experience to use. A major part of that was spent at Tampa Bay (nine years) and hence, in recognition of his stellar career with the Bucs, the league included him in Tampa Bay’s Mount Rushmore.

A first-round draft pick in 1995, his stint with Bucs stands out with 77 sacks and 406 tackles. One of the most dominant defensive tackles of all time, Sapp has more than earned his place among the Bucs’ legion of greats.

The man who changed the style of playing a DT!

On June 20, the YouTube channel “NFL Throwback” released the all-time stars of every team in the league. When narrating the Buccaneers’ Mount Rushmore, the clip highlighted the presence of Warren Sapp on the second number. The former defensive tackle played from 1995 to 2003 for the Buccaneers.

The channel mentioned, “Sapp spent nine seasons in Tampa, wreaking havoc on the opposition. The four-time All-Pro was one of the most talented defensive tackles that has ever stepped foot on the gridiron.” He also earned ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ in 1999 and continued to excel with an impressive 16.5 sacks in the following season, the third-highest total ever recorded by a defensive tackle.

Sapp changed how opponents and fans would look at the team. Opponents knew where he was on the field. He made his presence clear and everyone took notice. The Bucs defense, which was accustomed to being pushed around, became a fortress with him in the lineup. As part of Bucs’ defense, he racked up 77 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, and 311 total tackles- all incredible numbers for an interior defensive lineman.

Further, many will recall his Week 1 performance in 1997 against the 49ers led by two future Hall of Famers- QB Steve Young and WR Jerry Rice. A young Bucs defense led by Sapp restricted the 49ers offense to just six points and Sapp recorded 11 tackles and 2.5 sacks in that game. It doesn’t end there. Rice was gravely injured after clashing with Sapp.

The 276-pound defensive tackle Rice down and when the latter’s foot got tangled in the turf, it twisted and crumbled. Jerry Rice, who had not missed a single game in 19 seasons (right from high school) was hunched over on the sidelines because of Sapp. Later, an MRI revealed that the athlete had a torn lateral meniscus, torn anterior cruciate, and medial collateral ligaments.

Sapp had seven Pro Bowl appearances and four All-Pro selections during his time in Tampa, to further validate his claim as one of the best DTs in the NFL. He is recognized for changing the way the defensive tackle position is played. He was an excellent run defender and pass rusher, as he made life difficult for the offensive linesman.

Besides Sapp’s contributions, there were other players who were vital in the success of Tampa Bay, whom the NFL recently named as the other Mount Rushmore players.

Who are the other valuable players for the Bucs?

The NFL Throwback also released the names of Derrick Brooks, Lee Roy Selmon, and John Lynch of the Buccaneers, besides naming Warren Sapp. Recalling their legacy, the narrator highlighted that Brooks was a top player in one of the greatest defensive units of all time.

In the 2002 season, he helped lead the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl title, winning ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ with five return touchdowns, including the playoffs. He was an 11-time Pro Bowler and consistently had over 100 combined tackles every season from 1996 to 2007.

Selmon, on the other hand, was the first-ever draft pick for the Bucs and became their first Hall of Famer. Despite playing for a struggling franchise, Selmon was a standout, who won Defensive Player of the Year in 1979, leading the team to the NFC title game. He also made the Pro Bowl in each of his final six seasons.

Supporting him was John Lynch, a hard-hitting safety, who had the ability to change the game in an instant. Like Sapp and Brooks, Lynch helped build the foundation for the Buccaneers’ dominant defense in the late 90s and early 2000s. He was a five-time Pro Bowler with the Bucs and had six seasons with 80 or more tackles.

These four players were integral to the Buccaneers’ success and left a lasting legacy on the team. With Sapp now part of the CU football side, those in Boulder will hope that, alongside Deion Sanders, he can inspire the Buffs to an improved showing this term. What do you think?