The Greatest Trade For Every NFL Team In History

Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  The Jon Gruden trade

By 2002 the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were having an identity crisis. Under the guidance of head coach Tony Dungy the franchise had become a defensive powerhouse and one of the top teams in the NFC. Even so, three-straight years of bitter disappointment in the playoffs that exhibited serious offensive ineptitude led to the belief that the team might never be good enough to take advantage of their Super Bowl window. Thus the unthinkable was considered: dismiss Dungy in hopes a replacement can fix their problem.

The solution was an even bigger shocker. Tampa Bay decided to trade for Jon Gruden, who was then head coach of the Oakland Raiders, in exchange for two 1st and two 2nd round draft choices. It was a gamble that was off the charts at the time, but Gruden was known for his ability to motivate players as well as coach offense. Sure enough he got things rolling just in time for the playoffs that year. The Bucs crushed both the 49ers and Eagles to reach their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Waiting there was Gruden’s former team, the Raiders. With his inside knowledge of their schemes, the Buccaneers delivered a decisive 48-21 rout to win the title.

Oakland hasn’t been back to the playoffs since.  Gruden retired as the winningest coach in Tampa Bay history.

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