For Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans who watched the team’s mind-numbing struggles on special teams in 2025, bringing back punter Riley Dixon isn’t exactly the best news.
“Buccaneers exercised the option on punter Riley Dixon’s contract, preventing him from becoming a free agent and tying him to Tampa for the 2026 season, per source,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Wednesday.
Dixon, 32 years old, signed a 2-year, $6 million contract with the Buccaneers before the 2025 season and will be paid approximately $3 million in 2026.
The Buccaneers previously seemed on the fence about bringing back Dixon, who had 2 punts blocked in the first 4 games of the regular season and was one of the NFL’s worst punters — he finished 29th in the NFL at 44.7 yards per punt.
“Bowles said the team hasn’t decided if they’ll exercise an option on punter Riley Dixon, who would make $3 million in 2026, including an upcoming $500k roster bonus,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on February 24. “Dixon ranked 31 out of 35 punters in average in 2025 and 28th in net punting.”
Bucs Looked to Replace Dixon After Early Struggles
According to Auman, the Buccaneers brought in several punters to replace Dixon after Philadelphia Eagles safety Sydney Brown returned a blocked punt 35 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring in a 31-25 win over the Buccaneers in Week 4.
Getting punts blocked is nothing new for Dixon.
“One note on Bucs and blocked punts — it has been an issue with Riley Dixon in his career,” Auman wrote. “He entered 2025 as NFL’s active leader with seven blocked punts, but that’s one in every 95 punts for his career. This year, Bucs have 2 blocks in 16 punts; rest of NFL has 2 in 429 punts.”
“(Dixon) can speed his process up,” Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles said after the loss to the Eagles. “We’re looking at all avenues to improve our special teams.”
Dixon led the NFL in total punts (89) and total punt yardage (4,068) as a rookie in 2016 with the Denver Broncos and led the NFL in punting average (48.0 yards) with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.
Bucs Made ‘Best In Biz’ Special Teams Hire
One thing to consider with Dixon is the new leadership the Buccaneers will have on special teams after hiring legendary special teams coordinator Danny Smith away from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“Bucs hired Danny Smith as their new special teams coach,” Tampa Bay Times NFL reporter Rick Stroud wrote on X on Tuesday. “Smith, 72, has been the Steelers special teams coordinator since 2013 and now takes that role with the Bucs.”
Dixon also isn’t really the biggest problem on special teams. That would be kickoff coverage, where Bowles admitted the Buccaneers were giving teams the ball at the 35-yard line on purpose with touchbacks because they couldn’t make tackles on kickoffs.
Smith is one of the most well respected assistant coaches and coordinators in the NFL.
“The Buccaneers are hiring veteran special teams coordinator Danny Smith, sources tell me,” NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo wrote on his X account. “Now 50 years into his coaching career, Smith is still going and still considered one of the best in the biz. On to Tampa for the 72-year-old, gum-chewing Smith.”
Buccaners Make Surprise Decision on Veteran Special Teams Standout