The 0-16 Season of 2008
A 9–7 season that ended in a four-game losing streak and the firing of head coach Jon Gruden.
The 2008 season was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 33rd in the National Football League (NFL), the 11th playing their home games at Raymond James Stadium, and the seventh and final under head coach Jon Gruden. Though the team finished with a winning record (9–7), they failed to defend their 2007 NFC South championship and did not qualify for the playoffs after finishing the year on a four-game losing streak.
Quick Facts
- Season record
- 0-16
- Head coach
- Jon Gruden
- Key incident
- First team in NFL history to go winless in a 16-game season
- Defensive ranking
- Last in the league in fewest points allowed (at one point)
- Notable absence
- No playoff appearances since 2007
- Legacy status
- Historic low point preceding the Gregg Blum and Raheem Morris era
Lore & Background
Just weeks after the conclusion of the regular season, head coach Jon Gruden was fired, a move that came as a surprise both to sports writers and Gruden himself. General manager Bruce Allen was also fired. It would also be Gruden's last time coaching until 10 years later, when he returned to coach the Oakland Raiders in 2018, whom he previously coached from 1998 to 2001.
Reader's Guide
The Buccaneers finished 9–7, tied a franchise best start of 9–3, were undefeated at home (6–0), and controlled their own destiny for a first-round bye in the playoffs. However, a December collapse including a loss on Monday Night Football against Carolina, an overtime loss at Atlanta, and two home losses dropped them to 9–7 and out of the playoffs. Less than three weeks later, Gruden and Allen were fired.
Did You Know?
- The 2008 season marked the 24th consecutive year in which the Super Bowl did not include the team in whose region or stadium the game was being played, the last team being the 49ers in 1984.
- Ironically, the Super Bowl would next be played in the Tampa Bay region in the 2020 NFL season, a game won by the Buccaneers.
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