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The legendary linebacker, star of the Las Vegas Raiders and Super Bowl champion, has sent shockwaves through Buccaneers Nation by expressing his desire to return to Tampa Bay after becoming a free agent 

The legendary linebacker, star of the Las Vegas Raiders and Super Bowl champion, has sent shockwaves through Buccaneers Nation by expressing his desire to return to Tampa Bay after becoming a free agent 

Tampa Bay, Florida – November 8, 2025

After leaving Tampa Bay, a Super Bowl champion and former cornerstone of the Buccaneers’ defense has sent shockwaves through Buccaneers Nation with an emotional confession — he wants to come home. After years of glory with other teams, the veteran admits one thing has never changed: his heart still belongs to Tampa Bay.

A first-round pick in 2012, the former Pro Bowl linebacker was once the embodiment of toughness, discipline, and relentless spirit in the Buccaneers’ iconic red and pewter. During his five seasons with Tampa Bay, he wasn’t just a reliable defender — he was the heartbeat of the defense, inspiring his teammates through calm leadership and an unbreakable will to win.
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After leaving the team in 2017, he went on to win two Super Bowls and was named Defensive Player of the Year, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest defenders of his generation. Yet despite all the titles and accolades, he says nowhere ever made him feel as at home as Tampa Bay.

“I don’t need trophies. I don’t need money,” he said. “All I want is one more chance — to put that red jersey back on, walk out of the Raymond James Stadium tunnel, and hear the roar of the crowd. I miss the cannons, I miss the sunlight hitting the field, and the feeling of fighting for the pirate flag on my helmet. And if I have to give up everything to feel that again — I will.”

Inside the Buccaneers locker room, his name is still spoken with reverence — a symbol of grit, heart, and pride. Antoine Winfield Jr., one of the team’s rising defensive stars, said: “He set the standard for all of us. When you watch his film, you understand what focus, sacrifice, and the heart of a true Buccaneer really mean.”

Now, at 27, the veteran continues to train relentlessly every day, waiting for one call — just one — from Jason Licht’s office. One final chance to close his journey where it all began.

For him, Tampa Bay has never just been a team.

Just Three Hours After Being Released by the Packers, 2× Pro Bowl Star Deletes Every Post About Green Bay After His Attempt to Take a Pay Cut to Stay Was Rejected — His Vow Never to Return Leaves Packers Nation in Sympathy .
Green Bay, Wisconsin – The offseason took an emotional turn for the Green Bay Packers when the organization decided to release veteran offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins as part of a salary-cap adjustment. But what happened just hours later turned the situation into one of the most emotional storylines of the week across the NFL. According to multiple reports, Jenkins — a two-time Pro Bowl selection and former All-Pro honoree — had attempted to negotiate with the team and even offered to take a pay cut in order to remain with the franchise that originally drafted him. The effort ultimately fell short as Green Bay chose to move forward with a roster reset, clearing nearly $20 million in cap space for the 2026 season. Just three hours after the release became official, fans began noticing something unusual on Jenkins’ social media accounts. Every post connected to his years in Green Bay — from locker room celebrations to photos wearing the iconic green-and-gold uniform — had quietly disappeared. Jenkins had been one of the pillars of the Packers’ offensive line since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State. Throughout multiple seasons, he built a reputation for rare versatility, capable of playing guard, tackle, and center at an elite level, and was widely regarded as one of the most reliable and flexible offensive linemen in the league. At his peak, Jenkins was often described as Green Bay’s “secret weapon” on the offensive front. He protected multiple quarterbacks over the years and helped anchor an offense that consistently remained competitive during several playoff runs. His ability to seamlessly shift across nearly every position along the offensive line made him one of the most trusted players inside the Packers’ locker room. At first, the decision to erase those memories surprised many fans. But once reports surfaced that Jenkins had been willing to sacrifice financially just to remain with the team, the reaction across Packers Nation quickly shifted from shock to empathy. Green Bay will always hold a special place in my heart because it’s where my journey truly began. But sometimes you fight to stay somewhere and still realize that chapter has ended, and when that moment comes, the only thing you can do is walk away with respect for every memory that was built there. While Jenkins did not criticize the organization, sources close to the situation say the emotional weight of the release influenced his decision to remove the posts. What surprised many even more was the report that Jenkins has told people close to him that he does not plan to return to Green Bay at any point in his career, choosing instead to start an entirely new chapter elsewhere in the NFL. Yet instead of anger, the reaction from Packers fans has largely been one of understanding. For many supporters, Jenkins’ willingness to take a pay cut simply reinforced what they had long believed. He wasn’t just protecting the quarterback on Sundays.He was trying to protect a home he once hoped would last his entire career.