In a recently released article by Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport, the Super Bowl winning 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers were ranked as one of the best defenses in NFL history, coming in at fifth on the list. Only the 1985 Chicago Bears, 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2000 Baltimore Ravens, and 1971 Minnesota Vikings were ranked above the 2002 Bucs.
During their Super Bowl run led by current Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, the Buccaneers defense was anchored by Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks, pass rushers Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp, and a secondary consisting of current San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, Ronde Barber, and Dexter Jackson.