Getty Jordan Whitehead
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are certainly on their way to a great offseason. With free agency set to open on Monday, March 11, the Buccaneers have already re-signed Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield to multi-season contracts. In recent speculation on social media, some suggest that former safety Jordan Whitehead could be hinting at a return to the Buccaneers as well.
Speculation began after Whitehead posted a highlight reel of himself to showcase his talents. In the reel, Whitehead was wearing a Buccaneers uniform in nearly all of the highlights.
Buccaneers React to Jordan Whitehead’s Post
A few Buccaneers took notice of this pretty quickly.
Running back Rachaad White reposted Whitehead’s video with the pondering emoji.
White wasn’t the starter during Whitehead’s time with Tampa Bay, as he was drafted in 2022 after Whitehead had already left. But he isn’t the only current Buc keeping his eyes peeled for a potential return from Whitehead.
Calijah Kancey, the Buccaneers’ first-round selection from the draft in 2023, reposted the video as well with fire emoji.
Kancey was not in the NFL yet during Whitehead’s time in Tampa Bay, so these two could potentially team up if Whitehead decides to return. As an emerging star for the Buccaneers, Kancey could surely get behind Whitehead’s hard-hitting nature.
Whitehead & Antoine Winfield Jr. Have History
Speaking of hard-hitting safeties, Antoine Winfield Jr. is staying in Tampa this season and surely would be thrilled to have his counterpart back alongside him.
The 2021 Super Bowl starting safety duo could return for the 2024 season. In Whitehead’s final season of his previous run with the Bucs, he was the starting strong safety, paired with Winfield.
Even though the Buccaneers just placed the franchise tag on Winfield on March 5, they are hoping to work out a multi-year contract. The last time Whitehead and Winfield lined up alongside one another, their team won a Super Bowl.
GettyAntoine Winfield Jr.
In the 2020 season, the safety duo managed an impressive stat line for the entirety of the season. The two totaled a combined 168 tackles, 5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. Even more impressive, neither of these two players missed a single game in that season. They each played 16 games.
After Whitehead departed from the Bucs in 2022, he spent his next two seasons as the starting strong safety for the New York Jets. Though he didn’t have his counterpart in Winfield, he managed to play at a consistently high level, despite the team’s lack of success.
In his two seasons with the Jets (2022 and 2023), Whitehead racked up 186 tackles, 1 sack, and 6 interceptions.
Although this could all purely be speculation, the Buccaneers indeed have a need for depth at safety. Current safety Ryan Neal is a long-time veteran, and as of now is set to become a free agent for the 2024 season. If he decides to leave, Whitehead could fill the void left by Neal and look to regain the starting strong safety role in Tampa.