Veteran Buccaneers star Jason Pierre-Paul wants one final ride in Tampa Bay, sends a heartfelt message to fans
Tampa, Florida – January 16, 2026
After more than a decade of battles across the NFL, Jason Pierre-Paul is considering something many Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans have long hoped for: one “final return” to the place that shaped the greatest legacy of his career. Not to reclaim the spotlight. Not to become a media centerpiece. But to close his journey the right way — in Buccaneers colors, as a symbol who helped lift the franchise to the Super Bowl summit.
That desire is deeply personal. On December 9, 2025, Pierre-Paul signed with the Buccaneers’ practice squad after a successful tryout, marking his return to the team he played for from 2018 to 2021 and with whom he won Super Bowl LV. While the late-season comeback was brief and the contract has since expired, it was enough to reignite a bond that never truly faded between JPP and Tampa Bay. He is currently a free agent — but the door to a return remains open.

Notably, Pierre-Paul is not seeking a central star role or a symbol of a rebuild. At this stage of his career, he wants to be a leader, a teacher in the locker room — a bridge of experience for a young roster. “I don’t need to prove who I am anymore,” a source close to JPP quoted him as saying. “If I come back, it’s to help the team with experience, preparation, and a winning mindset.” For the Buccaneers, that value may matter as much as any stat line.
Jason Pierre-Paul’s legacy in Tampa Bay is undeniable. Acquired via trade from the Giants in 2018, he quickly became a defensive cornerstone. Over four primary seasons (2018–2021), JPP totaled 33 regular-season sacks — a figure that ranks top 10 in franchise history despite his relatively short tenure. His 12.5-sack campaign in 2018 ended a more than decade-long drought of double-digit sack defensive ends for the Bucs. The peak came in 2020, when he played a vital role in the Super Bowl LV championship run, highlighted by two sacks of Aaron Rodgers in the NFC Championship — a defining moment of Tampa’s new era.
From the Buccaneers’ perspective, the challenge is balancing emotion with long-term direction. Any return by Pierre-Paul must reinforce cultural stability and sustainable growth. But for fans, JPP’s message is already clear. This is not about proving anything. This is about finishing the right way — a quiet, complete ending, where a champion comes home not to chase glory, but to close the journey with respect, peace, and love for Buccaneers Nation.
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