The Top 10 worst-to-first seasons in NFL history

No. 4: 1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Some people will be confused by this entry on the list. Well as anybody knows, a ranking like this can never happen without the original worst-to-first team. The one that made the phrase popular. That was undoubtedly the 1979 Buccaneers and for good reason. Keep in mind this was the same team that started their existence back in 1976 and went an astonishing 0-26 through their first two seasons before they finally won a football game.

Knowing that it’s hard to imagine that franchise having a winning season within their first 10 years, let alone their first four. Yet that’s exactly what happened. Propelled by a tough defense and the play of a gritty young quarterback named Doug Williams, the Bucs battled their way to a 9-6 record. A win in the season finale against Kansas City would hand them their first postseason berth as a franchise. There was just one problem.

The city was slapped with one of the most torrential downpours of its time. Dubbed the “Monsoon Bowl,” the two teams practically swam their way back and forth across the field. Both offenses were literally stuck in the mud all day. Then in the waning moments, Williams got them down the field to connect on a 19-yard field goal for a 3-0 win. It may not have been flashy, but it was a landmark moment for a young franchise.