TAMPA, Fla. — History will be made on Feb. 7, 2021, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers become the first NFL team to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium.
That game – along with what we hope is a win for our Bucs – will cap off a season unlike any other, played during an ongoing pandemic, no less.
But this historic Super Bowl has been years in the making with several stars aligning to help make it happen:
Un-retirement
Just one year into his retirement, the Bucs pulled Bruce Arians back on to the sidelines in January 2019.
Arians, who retired after five seasons coaching the Arizona Cardinals, was the swag Tampa Bay so desperately needed again, Bucs general manager Jason Licht said at the time.
“I just like to say the stars aligned,” Arians told the crowd during a press conference welcoming him to the team.
“I’m not about building, I’m about reloading,” Arians said about the team having the ability to win quickly. Wonder if he ever thought it’d be this quick?!
The Brady Bucs
Tom Brady landed in Tampa Bay last March after 20 years and six Super Bowl rings with the Patriots.
The Bucs got the GOAT and Bay-area football fans got something to smile about just as the COVID-19 pandemic was intensifying.
And who could forget TB 12’s awkwardly funny start in TB when he was caught working out in a closed park and accidentally walking into the wrong house when he was trying to visit with the team’s offensive coordinator?
“Just making myself at home in Tampa Bay,” Brady jokingly tweeted at the time.
Pandemic protocols
While COVID-19 ravaged sports league schedules and the NFL dealt with a handful of team outbreaks, Tampa Bay largely managed to avoid widespread issues due to the virus.
And Florida’s warm weather was an advantage to the team, too.
When other teams were forced to forgo in-person meetings under the NFL’s strict pandemic protocols, Tampa Bay was able to set up socially distanced tents outside the training facility
“We’re very, very fortunate to have the facility and the weather that we can meet outside,” Arians previously said.
Rain
Tampa wasn’t even supposed to host the big game in 2021. It was originally set to be played in Los Angeles, but the NFL moved the game to Tampa back in 2017 after record rainfall delayed construction of L.A.’s new football stadium.
Los Angeles will now host the 2022 Super Bowl.
This will be the fifth time Tampa has hosted the Super Bowl. We've done it in 1984, 1991, 2001 and 2009.
"Even the best prognosticator could have never predicted the way all these pieces would come together," said Rob Higgins, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl 55 Host Committee.
"It is truly all the moons aligning, and it just makes it even more important."
- Bucs become first team in NFL history to play in a Super Bowl at their home stadium
- The stage is set: Buccaneers and Chiefs will meet in Tampa Bay for Super Bowl LV
- Here's how many fans will be allowed to attend Super Bowl LV
- Parking, tickets, map: Everything you need to know about the Super Bowl Experience
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