Doug Williams is back in the Hall of Fame conversation, and this time it’s as a contributor nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2027 class.
Williams, whose name is woven into NFL history, was one of five contributors nominated on Wednesday. The former Bucs quarterback led Washington past Denver in Super Bowl 22, throwing for 340 yards and four touchdowns while earning game MVP honors. In doing so, he became the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl, cementing a place in league history after a nine-year NFL career.
The other contributor nominees are Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Bears owner Virginia McCaskey, former Canton Bulldogs owner Ralph Hay and Cowboys scout John Wooten. Williams has spent the last 13 years working in the Commanders’ front office, and he also held front-office roles with the Bucs and Jaguars.
The 2027 Hall class will be revealed at NFL Honors in Los Angeles and enshrined in Canton, Ohio, next August.
Kraft was also nominated last year. McCaskey, who served as the Bears’ principal owner from 1983 until her death in 2025 at age 102, saw Chicago win Super Bowl 20 during her tenure. She was the daughter of Bears founder George Halas.
Wooten played 10 NFL seasons as an offensive lineman and later worked as a scout, executive and chairman of the Fritz-Pollard Alliance. Hay hosted the NFL’s formational meeting.
The contributor subcommittee will meet virtually and choose one candidate from this group to move forward.
On the field, the Bucs got a big day from linebacker Alex Anzalone, who is settling in more comfortably in Tampa Bay’s defense. Against the Falcons on Sunday, he disguised pressure and dropped into coverage to grab the first of his two interceptions in a 16-0 win.
Anzalone finished with six tackles, one tackle for loss and a career-high two interceptions, and on Wednesday he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
“Yeah, it’s cool, but the best thing is that it helped with the shutout and we got a win,” Anzalone said Wednesday. ”Any individual award is the accumulation of guys doing their jobs, being in the right spot and capitalizing on your opportunities. It’s cliche and all that but it’s the truth."
The injury news around the Bucs wasn’t as encouraging. Receiver Emeka Egbuka did not practice again as he works back from a foot injury, though he did run full speed with a trainer on another field. Outside linebacker Yaya Diaby is expected to miss two to three weeks with an MCL sprain.
In Other News...
Calijah Kancey Just Reminded Bucs Fans What This Defense Needs
Calijah Kancey gave the Buccaneers another reminder of why his presence matters in the middle of the defense, even when the box score does not tell the whole story. Against Atlanta, he was part of a front that helped Tampa Bay stay organized at the point of attack, with Kancey chipping in three solo tackles and one assist while doing the dirty work that often gets overlooked on a stat sheet.
What stood out was the way he helped the Bucs hold their shape against the run, taking on blockers and helping close off lanes before they could develop. Tampa Bay has plenty of reasons to value disruptive plays from its front, but Kanceys value goes beyond splash moments, and games like this are a good example of why the defense looks different when he is involved. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Rookie Ted Hurst Is Running Out Of Time To Earn Trust
Ted Hurst arrived in Tampa Bay with the kind of rookie buzz that usually comes from a strong college rsum and a promising camp, but the regular season has been a tougher proving ground. Through eight games, the Buccaneers wide receiver has flashed just enough to keep the conversation going, yet his production has been modest as he tries to carve out a bigger role in an offense that has leaned heavily on the run and sputtered at times through the air.
For a player whose calling card was supposed to be reliability on the boundary and the ability to finish contested throws, the margin for error is getting thinner. The Bucs still need answers in the passing game, and Hurst still has time to make himself part of them, but he is also running out of opportunities to show that his college promise can translate when the games count the most. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Face A Vita Vea Decision That Could Shift Fast
The Buccaneers are in a familiar spot for this time of year, still hanging around the playoff race and not acting like a team ready to strip things down at the trade deadline. Even so, defensive tackle Vita Vea has emerged as a name worth watching, with ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reporting that New York is keeping tabs on him while Tampa Bay weighs its own path forward.
Veas recent extension makes any move feel unlikely, and the Buccaneers are not planning to deal him right now. But his recent dip in performance has added a layer of intrigue to a decision that could move quickly if the next stretch of games changes the teams outlook, leaving Tampa Bay to balance present contention against the kind of long-term roster call that can reshape a defense. [Read more 🡒]