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Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety J.T. Gray.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers weren’t very good at anything in 2025, but the 1 thing they were really, really bad at was special teams.
How bad were they? Head coach Todd Bowles admitted late in the season that his team was purposely kicking touchbacks and giving opposing teams the ball at the 35-yard line because he had zero faith in Tampa Bay’s tackling ability.
That’s why it’s mildly concerning to see 3-time NFL All-Pro special teamer J.T. Gray walk out the door in free agency.
“The Eagles have agreed to terms with safeties Marcus Epps and J.T. Gray, both of whom get one-year deals, after trading S Sydney Brown to the Falcons,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on Friday. “Epps spent 2019-2022 in Philly, while Gray has been All-Pro three times.”
Bucs Signed Gray Late in Miserable Season
The Buccaneers signed Gray to the practice squad on November 21 ahead of their Week 12 road game against the Los Angeles Rams — what would end being a 3rd consecutive loss.
This will be Gray’s fourth team this season, following stints with the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos.
Tampa Bay finished the season 8-9 and missed the playoffs for the 1st time since 2019.
“The counter move for adding safety J.T. Gray to the practice squad was Bucs releasing offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account on November 21.
Gray, 29 years old, played for the Saints for 8 seasons.
“In seven seasons with the Saints, Gray played 98 games and became known as one of the NFL’s best special teams players,” Buccaneers.com’s Scott Smith wrote after Gray signed. “In 2021, he led the NFL with 16 kick-coverage spots, earning an invitation to the Pro Bowl as a special teamer. He was also a first-team Associated Press All-Pro in that category in 2021 and earned second-team selections in 2019 and 2024. In his career, he has 103 tackles, one tackles or loss, two quarterback hits, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.”
From Undrafted to NFL Special Teams Star
Gray, 6-foot and 202 pounds, is a Clarksdale, Mississippi, native who stayed in-state to play for Mississippi State, where he played both linebacker and defensive back. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.50 seconds at Mississippi State’s Pro Day and made the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
If the Saints weren’t in a year where they were trying to tank on an epic scale and cutting salaries everywhere they could, it’s likely Gray would have remained with his original team.
“One of the more perplexing moves the New Orleans Saints have made in recent weeks was the decision to cut J.T. Gray,” Saints Wire’s John Sigler wrote on September 2. ” … anyone who has watched a lot of Saints games since Gray made the team back in 2018 can tell how important he’s been to their success … He was named a team captain for the first time before that breakout 2021 campaign and core the captain’s patch through 2022, 2023, and 2024. He’s regularly ranked among league leaders in tackles on special teams. There just haven’t been many players who can shed a block and get downfield to cover a punt or kickoff like him. So why cut him?”
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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