Josh Freeman Quarterback
Former Buccaneers quarterback who set franchise records and led a 10–6 season in 2010.
Joshua Tyler Freeman (born January 13, 1988) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats, and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. Freeman became the starter for Tampa Bay in his rookie year and went on to break numerous franchise passing records. However, he was released partway through his fifth year with the team.
Quick Facts
- Key coach
- Raheem Morris; Greg Schiano
- Status
- Former Player
Lore & Background
Freeman was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft with the 17th overall pick. He entered the draft with one year of college eligibility left. The Buccaneers later agreed to terms with Freeman on a five-year, $26 million contract, with another possible $10 million in incentives and bonuses. On November 8, 2009, Freeman started his first professional game at home against the Green Bay Packers. The Buccaneers won by a score of 38–28, ending an 11-game losing streak. He completed 14 out of 31 passes for 205 yards, three passing touchdowns, and one interception, including a fourth down touchdown pass to rookie Sammie Stroughter to take the lead, 31–28 late in the game. Freeman became the youngest quarterback in franchise history to start and win his first game. On December 27, 2009, he led the Buccaneers to a 20–17 overtime win over the 13–1 New Orleans Saints, preventing them from clinching the top seed in the playoffs for one more week. The Buccaneers finished the 2009 season with a 3–13 record as Freeman finished with 1,855 passing yards, ten touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. Freeman began the 2010 season as the Buccaneers' starting quarterback. He started all 16 games of the season, the first Buccaneer quarterback to do so since Brad Johnson in 2003. In Week 5, Freeman earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against the Cincinnati Bengals. On December 26, 2010, Freeman completed 21 of 26 pass attempts for 227 yards and five touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks, matching a franchise record for touchdowns in a game. On January 1, 2011, Freeman completed 21 of 26 pass attempts for 255 yards and two touchdowns against the playoff-bound New Orleans Saints. Both performances won him the FedEx Air Player of the Week. He was awarded NFC Offensive Player of The Week for Week 17. He led the team to a winning record of 10–6, barely missing the playoffs. He was ranked 86th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2011. Freeman participated in 15 out of the 16 games in the 2011 season. However, this season would prove to be disappointing for him compared to the previous season. He passed for 3,592 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions. He finished with a 74.6 quarterback rating. The Bucs finished with a 4–12 record, losing the final 10 games of the season.
Reader's Guide
Josh Freeman was a first-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009. He started as a rookie and set franchise passing records. His best season was 2010, leading the Bucs to a 10–6 record. After a decline and conflict with coach Greg Schiano, he was released in 2013. He later played for the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, Montreal Alouettes, and Brooklyn Bolts.
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