The worst kept secret in Tampa Bay is out as defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and the Bucs have mutually agreed to part ways.
The Bucs will save $13 million dollars against the cap this season and will need some of that to sign first-round pick Devin White and defensive backs Sean Bunting and Mike Edwards.
A third-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2010, McCoy followed in the footsteps of Hall of Famer Warren Sapp and would go on to anchor the defensive line for the next nine seasons.
McCoy finishes his career as the third all-time sack leader in Buccaneer history with 54.5 sacks, trailing only Sapp and Derrick Brooks.
In addition to his 54.5 sacks, McCoy also registered 79 tackles for loss and had 140 quarterback hits.
2013 will go down as the best season for Gerald McCoy as he led the Buccaneers with 9.5 sacks and had 50 tackles.
McCoy will also go down as one of the most under-appreciated Buccaneers in history, as he had the unfortunate experience to play in Tampa during one of the worst eras in Buccaneer football; McCoy had only two winning seasons during his nine campaigns in Tampa.
McCoy played in six Pro Bowls, again trailing only Brooks (11) and Sapp (7).
McCoy will be remembered just as much for his giving back to the community and his support of various charities throughout the Tampa Bay area as for his play on the football field.
In 2018, McCoy started the Patricia Diane Foundation, named after his grandmother, to provide low-income single parents with various resources to help their children. As a result of his efforts, McCoy was the Buccaneers’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
Also in 2018, McCoy along with his fellow defensive linemen brought underprivileged kids to One Bucs place and gave everyone a brand new bike and other gifts for Christmas and played video games with the kids throughout the night.
McCoy also brought single mothers to One Bucs Place so they could enjoy a nice Christmas dinner and then had numerous gifts for each mother.
McCoy was always ready to answer the tough questions after what seemed like another defensive debacle. As one of the captains on the Bucs, McCoy would always face the media and answer the questions.
McCoy was a spiritual man, a man of faith, and a mentor in the locker room to the young Buccaneers.
Although most Bucs fans knew this day would eventually come, we will miss seeing number 93 run out of the tunnel on Sunday afternoons.
Who knows how long McCoy will continue to play, one thing Buccaneer fans can be sure of: upon his retirement, McCoy’s number 93 will be retired and hung proudly at Raymond James Stadium in the Bucs Ring of Honor.
