The year was 2002 and the Buccaneers’ offense did not light up scoreboards by any means. Ranked 18th overall, 15th in passing, and 27th in rushing, Jon Gruden’s club was not flashy, but they got the job done. This came thanks to their top-ranked defense in the league, led by future Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks.
Tampa Bay’s defense tallied 38 takeaways, with 31 of them being interceptions. With their defense tied for third in takeaways and leading the league in interceptions, the Buccaneers’ offense was the benefactor. Starting on average at his own 33-yard line, Brad Johnson went to work.
When I say went to work, I do not mean Johnson threw 50-yard frozen ropes all over the field. Instead, Johnson was rather meticulous and careful with the football. Even as a quarterback, Johnson did not lead the team in interceptions. Cornerback Brian Kelly took home that crown with eight interceptions, while Johnson only threw six picks the entire season. Let that sink in. Johnson threw fewer interceptions than Kelly grabbed. What’s better is that Brooks was right behind Johnson with five interceptions of his own.
Brady threw 40 touchdowns this regular season, while Johnson threw only 27 touchdowns the entire 2002 season including the playoffs.
As Tampa Bay bounced the 49ers and Eagles in the playoffs en route to Super Bowl XXXVII, Johnson maintained his meticulous mindset. The 34-year old attempted only 98 passes completing 53 of them for 670 yards throughout the playoffs. With a mediocre stat line of three touchdowns and two interceptions heading into Super Sunday, how were Johnson and the Buccaneers’ offense going to keep up with the Oakland Raiders’ attack led by league MVP Rich Gannon?
With their dynamic defense of course! The Buccaneers’ lock-down defense held the 49ers and Eagles to a combined 16 points. This is insane considering the 49ers and Eagles combined for an average of 25 points per game. And the Buccaneers held them to 16 points total in two games.
The Raiders came into Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL’s second-ranked offense averaging 28 points per game. Super Bowl XXXVII was an old fashion battle between a top defense and top offense. And as the saying goes, defense wins championships.
Gannon deservedly won MVP in 2002, throwing for 4,689 yards and 26 touchdowns, while only throwing 10 interceptions. Little did Gannon know he was in for the nightmare of his life against the lights out Buccaneers defense.
Gannon almost outdid his 10 regular season interceptions in 60 minutes by throwing five on football’s biggest stage. Two interceptions by eventual Super Bowl MVP Dexter Jackson set up Johnson and the Buccaneers to take control of the game. As usual, Johnson methodically marched his team down the field, and he did it more than once.
Immediately following Johnson’s second touchdown pass to McCardell, defensive back Dwight Smith took Gannon’s pass back for a 44-yard score. Do not worry, you will hear Smith’s name again in a moment.
Fast forwarding to the fourth quarter, the Raiders were hanging on for dear life trailing 34-21 with under two minutes remaining. Derrick Brooks cemented the Super Bowl with a 44-yard pick-six of his own. But wait there’s more.
Tampa Bay went on to win Super Bowl XXXVII 48-21 led by that impenetrable defense and a quarterback who just did not make mistakes, Brad Johnson.
He did not put up the stat lines Tom Brady did, but Brad Johnson delivered the title to Tampa Bay. Wins all count the same in football whether you win by seven or 27. The end goal is to win Lombardi Trophy whether you light up the stat sheets or not.
But let’s remember that before Tom Brady partied with the Lombardi in Tampa Bay, Brad Johnson was a man in rarified air. And now Johnson has some elite company.
George Whitbread may have Cerebral Palsy, but he does not let it slow him down in achieving his goals. George is a St. John’s University student studying journalism as an aspiring sports broadcaster. The Oceanside New York native began chasing his broadcasting dream back in high school when he did play-by-play and public address announcing for his school’s football and boy’s and girl’s lacrosse teams. At St. John’s, George is an active member in the school’s radio station, WSJU. With WSJU, George has two sports radio shows and frequently does play-by-play or color commentary for St. John’s men’s and women’s basketball and baseball.
George has been working for the New York Mets since 2016 as a member of the promotions staff. Last summer, George increased his role in the Mets organization when he took on a second job as a tour guide. It is George’s true love for the Mets and baseball that makes him love what he does. It is George’s dream to one day end up in a broadcast booth, but the Mets booth would be an extra special place to call home.
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