The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced on Monday morning they will wear their creamsicle throwback uniforms during their Oct. 15 game against the Detroit Lions.
“The return of our beloved creamsicle uniforms for this special game is something that our fans have been passionate about for many years,” chief operating officer Brian Ford said. “This is more than a throwback game; it is a celebration of our legacy and some of the great moments and players that make our story so special to fans.”
The Buccaneers originally wore these uniforms – which feature a white helmet with decals of a pirate named Bucco Bruce wearing a plumed hat and clenching a knife in his mouth on both sides, Florida orange jersey with red accents and white pants with a traditional striping pattern – from their inaugural season in 1976 until a rebrand in 1997.
Tampa Bay also wore throwback uniforms for one game every season from 2009-12 before the NFL implemented its one-helmet rule, which prevented teams from wearing a second lid from 2013-2021. The Buccaneers went a league-worst 100-233-1 during the look’s original run, including an infamous 0-26 start, as well as 1-3 in their more recent appearances.
Like those games, which included a win over the Green Bay Packers in 2009 and losses to the Atlanta Falcons in 2010, Carolina Panthers in 2011 and New Orleans Saints in 2012, the Buccaneers will once again paint the field at Raymond James Stadium with a throwback design and install retro bunting to match their original home, Tampa Stadium.
Tampa Bay notably went 6-6 against Detroit in the home version of its creamsicle throwback uniforms, which will be officially unveiled later this summer, with wins in 1979, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985 and 1988 and losses in 1978, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1987 and 1995. The Buccaneers and Lions were both members of the NFC Central division from 1977-2001.
With that said, Tampa Bay now joins the Seattle Seahawks in announcing when their throwback uniforms will be worn this season (Oct. 29 against the Cleveland Browns). The Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans are also set to reintroduce throwback designs this season, though none of the four have officially been unveiled.