Steve Spurrier Signed Wilson Football (Metabilia) Bucs Original Starting QB 1976

Riddell Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1976 Throwback speed mini helmet. Hand-signed by Steve Spurrier.

In April 1976, Spurrier was sent to the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for two players and a second-round draft pick as part of the new franchise's first trade. The Buccaneers' new acquisition generated local excitement, as Spurrier had been a college star at the nearby University of Florida. He won the job as team's first starting quarterback, a title that he later regretted, as the undermanned Bucs went on to suffer the first winless season (0–14) in modern NFL history. Though he had looked forward to playing professional football in Florida, Spurrier was frustrated by the losses, the constant hits absorbed while playing behind a porous offensive line, and his philosophical differences with Bucs coach John McKay insisted on employing a run-heavy attack similar to the offense he had used to win championships with the USC Trojans, while Spurrier felt that the team did not have the right personnel to run the ball effectively and should employ a more pass-oriented offense. Another point of contention was Coach McKay's insistence that his son, John McKay Jr, be the Bucs' primary wide receiver while Spurrier and other observers felt that he did not have the talent to fill that role

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Authentication: Metabilia Scannable Hologram