The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are neck-deep in a tightly contested NFC South race, and with the season winding down, every move counts. In a bid to bolster their defense for the stretch run, the Bucs are turning to a familiar face: veteran pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul.
Pierre-Paul is no stranger to Tampa. He’s been a key part of this franchise’s recent history-both on the field and in the locker room. Now, after a year away from the game, he’s back in pewter and red, looking to make one more impact as the Bucs aim to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
“The opportunity presented itself, and I'm here,” Pierre-Paul said. “I feel good, familiar city I know.
Went to school in Tampa, won a Super Bowl in Tampa. Did great things in Tampa.
I'm happy to say I'm here now.”
This isn’t just a nostalgia signing. Pierre-Paul made it clear: he never considered retirement.
“Not once in my head did I have, ‘I'm not going to play football again,’” he said. “If I didn't play this year, I was going to try next year.
It's a business thing. You get to a certain age, you think you don't got it anymore.
You just have to prove to yourself before anybody else. That's just the game of football.”
That mindset is vintage JPP-resilient, defiant, and driven. And while he hasn’t played since 2023, when he logged just three games, the Bucs are betting that his experience, leadership, and edge-rushing instincts still have value, especially in a defense that could use a spark.
Jason Pierre\Paul says he never considered that he was done playing football. But two years since his last NFL snap, he’s back with the Bucs. pic.twitter.com/B6i8V0j8bi
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) December 9, 2025
Let’s not forget the résumé: 15 NFL seasons, 182 games, 631 tackles, 167 quarterback hits, and 94.5 sacks. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time Super Bowl champion. That kind of pedigree doesn’t walk through the door every day, especially this late in the year.
For Tampa Bay, sitting at 7-6 with the division still up for grabs, this is about more than just stats. It’s about adding a proven winner who knows what it takes to close out a season. Pierre-Paul was part of the Bucs’ dominant 2020 Super Bowl run, and his return brings not just production potential, but a voice in the locker room that younger players can rally around.
The question now is how quickly he can get up to speed and what kind of role he’ll play in Todd Bowles’ defense. Even if he’s not the every-down force he once was, Pierre-Paul’s ability to make timely plays and apply pressure in key moments could be exactly what this team needs.
With four games left and playoff positioning hanging in the balance, Tampa Bay is looking for every edge it can get. Bringing back a battle-tested vet like JPP? That’s a move that speaks to urgency-and belief.