Bucs Unveil ‘Raise The Flags’ Docuseries to Celebrate 50 Seasons of Grit, Glory, and Growth
As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue their golden anniversary celebration, they’re giving fans a front-row seat to the franchise’s full journey-from the infamous 0-26 start to hoisting two Lombardi trophies-with the debut of Raise The Flags: 50 Years of Buccaneers Football. The 10-part docuseries, produced by Bucs co-owner Ed Glazer and directed by eight-time Emmy winner Trent Cooper, premieres exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on December 11, the same night the Bucs take the field in their iconic creamsicle uniforms against the Falcons on Thursday Night Football.
This isn’t just a highlight reel or a nostalgia trip. Raise The Flags is the most comprehensive deep dive into the Bucs’ history ever produced, blending raw honesty with championship pride. It’s a layered, emotional, and detailed portrait of a franchise that’s seen it all-missteps, milestones, and moments that defined generations of fans.
A Franchise Forged in Adversity
The series opens with the kind of history most teams would rather forget: Tampa Bay’s winless 0-26 start to life in the NFL. But that’s the point. This isn’t a sugar-coated celebration-it’s a full picture of a franchise that had to earn every ounce of respect it has today.
From those early struggles, the Bucs’ journey is told through the lens of key turning points: the improbable playoff run in 1979, the pivotal sale to the Glazer family, and the blockbuster trade for Jon Gruden that led to the franchise’s first Super Bowl title in 2002. The series doesn’t just hit the high notes-it digs into the decisions and dynamics that shaped the team’s identity.
Legends, Leaders, and Legacy
Raise The Flags also shines a spotlight on the players who became cornerstones of the franchise. Names like John Lynch, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, and Ronde Barber don’t just appear in highlight montages-they’re brought to life through interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and archival footage that gives fans a deeper understanding of their impact on and off the field.
And of course, the second Super Bowl run gets its due. The signing of Tom Brady-a move that stunned the league and instantly raised expectations-culminated in a dominant playoff run and a championship in Super Bowl LV. It was a full-circle moment for a franchise that had once been the league’s punchline.
Mike Evans, the longest-tenured offensive star in team history, also gets his flowers. His consistency and leadership through multiple eras of Bucs football make him one of the few players who can connect the dots between the franchise’s past, present, and future.
A Production That Matches the Moment
Director Trent Cooper and his team went all in on this project. With 100 interviews spanning players, coaches, executives, media voices, and longtime staff, the series is packed with firsthand accounts and untold stories that even diehard fans might not know. Archival footage and historical audio bring the five-decade timeline to life, giving viewers a seat at the table for some of the most pivotal moments in Bucs history.
Cooper, who grew up in the Tampa Bay area, brings both a filmmaker’s eye and a fan’s heart to the project. That blend of personal connection and professional storytelling adds an emotional resonance to the series that’s hard to fake.
A Fitting Finale to a Year of Celebration
The docuseries is the latest-and arguably most ambitious-piece of the Bucs’ 50th season celebration. Earlier this year, fans voted on the franchise’s best moments, the team brought back its 1976 throwback uniforms, and a list of the top 50 Bucs of all time was unveiled. Raise The Flags ties it all together, offering a narrative arc that spans generations and honors the full spectrum of the team’s history.
Fans got an early taste of what’s to come during a premiere event at Tampa Theatre back in September. Now, the rest of the country will get to experience it when the series drops on December 11. Available nationwide to Prime Video members on any compatible device, the release is timed perfectly-not just with the Bucs’ primetime game, but with the final stretch of a milestone season.
Why This Matters
For a franchise that’s seen the lowest of lows and the highest of highs, Raise The Flags is more than just a documentary-it’s a statement. It’s a reminder that success in the NFL doesn’t happen overnight, and that the heart of a team is built by the people who weather the storms and keep showing up.
Whether you’ve been a fan since the days of the Big Sombrero or you jumped on during the Brady era, this series offers something for everyone. It’s a celebration of resilience, a tribute to the legends, and a love letter to the fans who’ve been there through it all.