The Tampa Bay Buccaneers enter another high‑stakes matchup this week, but the franchise also steps into the spotlight for a different reason. Amazon Prime Video debuts Raise The Flags, a sweeping 10‑part docuseries that captures the team’s 50‑year evolution from the infamous 0–26 “Yuccaneers” to two‑time Super Bowl champions.
The Bucs currently sit tied for first place in the NFC South and plan to take the field in their iconic creamsicle uniforms—an intentional nod to the franchise’s earliest days. The timing aligns perfectly with the release of the series, which celebrates the team’s past while examining the decisions that shaped its future.
A Franchise Marked by Bold Moves and Painful Lessons
Before Tom Brady transformed the region into “Tompa Bay,” the Buccaneers navigated decades of turbulence. The team traded away future Hall of Famer Steve Young, watched Doug Williams walk, and lost out on Bo Jackson and Bill Parcells—twice. These pivotal missteps and near‑misses appear throughout the series, offering fans a candid look at how the franchise learned, adapted, and rebuilt.
The docuseries doesn’t shy away from the lows. Instead, it embraces them, pairing them with the triumphs that eventually led to championship seasons and a new era of stability.
Inside the Making of “Raise The Flags”
Buccaneers co‑owner Ed Glazer commissioned and produced the project, while eight‑time Emmy Award winner Trent Cooper directed it. Cooper, a lifelong Bucs fan, approached the series with a commitment to honesty and depth, mirroring the tone of NFL Films while expanding access far beyond traditional team documentaries.
Glazer emphasized transparency in his interviews, acknowledging both the organization’s successes and its missteps. He reflected on early ownership decisions, admitting that the family learned through trial and error and sometimes let Hall of Fame‑caliber players walk away—choices he says they would never repeat today.
A Deep Dive for Diehard Fans
The series features appearances and insights from franchise legends including Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch, Tony Dungy, Jon Gruden, Mike Alstott, and Tom Brady. It also explores the behind‑the‑scenes maneuvering that led to major turning points, such as the blockbuster trade for Jon Gruden that cost the team two first‑round picks, two second‑round picks, and $8 million.
Local media outlets and Buccaneers public relations teams have promoted the series heavily, positioning it as the most comprehensive visual history the franchise has ever released.
A Celebration of Perseverance and Identity
Raise The Flags arrives as both a celebration and a reckoning. It honors the players, coaches, and fans who endured decades of heartbreak and ultimately witnessed one of the most dramatic turnarounds in NFL history. It also challenges viewers to reconsider the franchise’s identity—not as the “Yuccaneers,” but as a resilient organization built on bold decisions, passionate leadership, and unwavering community support.
As the Buccaneers take the field in creamsicle orange, the series reminds fans why those colors matter. They represent where the team started, how far it has come, and the stories that shaped every step of the journey.
