The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went into a Week 17 matchup against the Dolphins looking to snap a three-game losing streak and control their own postseason destiny. Despite the stakes at play, Todd Bowles’ squad fell by a 20-17 score.
The Buccaneers’ running game and inconsistent pass rush once again earned some of the blame for the team’s struggles, a fact that didn’t escape franchise legend Warren Sapp.
Warren Sapp Gives Unvarnished Opinion on Key Buccaneers Assistant Coach
Factoring out the 16 yards that quarterback Baker Mayfield gained on scrambles, the Buccaneers’ running back trio of Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, and Sean Tucker netted just 37 rushing yards on 13 carries versus Miami.
The inability to run a balanced offense and a surprising game script, which saw Tampa Bay trailing for a large portion of the game, led to Mayfield attempting 44 passes.
What made the inability to consistently move the ball on the ground all the more surprising was the matchup. The Dolphins came into Week 17 allowing the seventh-most rushing yards per game (130.3) and 4.7 yards per carry to running backs.
On the other side of the ball, the Buccaneers managed to get to Dolphins rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers for two sacks, but Ewers still averaged 7.8 yards per attempt and threw a pair of touchdown passes without an interception.
An X user posted about his frustration regarding veteran edge rusher Haason Reddick, an accomplished pass rusher and new face on this season’s Buccaneers defense, being a non-factor, assigning blame to Buccaneers run game coordinator/outside linebackers coach Larry Foote.
Sapp replied with a disparaging tone regarding Foote’s coaching. “Foote teaching what!? What does he know about it!?”
Foote teaching What!? What does he know about it!?
— Warren Sapp (@WarrenSapp) December 28, 2025
Sapp, who is currently serving as the University of Colorado’s pass rush coordinator, certainly has the credentials to offer some criticism, despite not being currently associated with the team.
During his tenure with the Buccaneers from 1995 to 2003, Sapp helped Tampa Bay win a Super Bowl title in January 2003. He finished his Buccaneers career with 406 tackles (311 solo), including 77.0 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, and nine fumble recoveries across 140 regular-season games (130 starts).
Sapp also earned Defensive Player of the Year honors following the 1999 season and garnered four First-Team All-Pro nods during his time with the team. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
Larry Foote Also Has Favorable Track Record Despite Season’s Struggles
That said, the Buccaneers’ struggles are multifaceted, and Foote also has a solid NFL resume, both as a player and a coach, to fall back on.
Foote initially played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2002 through 2008 and subsequently returned for four additional campaigns (2010-2013). He also logged a season apiece with the Detroit Lions (2009) and Arizona Cardinals (2014) before beginning his coaching career with the latter in 2015.
After serving as the Cardinals’ linebackers coach for four seasons, Foote arrived in Tampa Bay in 2021. During his now five-season stint with the Bucs, Foote has coached both outside linebackers and inside linebackers, while also coordinating both the pass game (2022-24), and currently, the running game.
It’s accurate to state the team’s ground attack has generally underwhelmed this season — Tampa Bay ranks No. 21 with 112.9 rushing yards per game.
However, Irving’s seven-game absence due to foot and shoulder issues earlier in the season, as well as numerous injuries along the offensive line, have all contributed to the offense’s middling PFSN Offense Impact score of 71.3 (C-), which has saddled them with a No. 22 ranking entering Week 17.
And as for the player who indirectly prompted Sapp’s comment, Reddick, the veteran has struggled to the tune of just 29 tackles, including 2.5 sacks, after recording between 11.0 and 16.0 sacks from the 2020 to 2023 seasons for the Cardinals, Panthers, and Eagles.
Reddick exited Sunday’s loss in the fourth quarter after recording four tackles, including one for loss, to be evaluated for a concussion.
