The Jets head on the road for the first time this week taking the I-95 with the final destination pinpointed at Raymond James Stadium. 

Week two didn’t exactly go to plan. The early positivity gave way to a frustrating afternoon for everyone. But a new week presents a new opportunity and there is a sense of urgency around 1JD to get into the win column and avoid falling into an 0-3 hole. 

A very difficult matchup awaits against a 2-0 Buccaneers side who have squeaked out two wins to start the season; a 23-20 victory in week one against the Atlanta Falcons was followed by a 20-19 victory against the Houston Texans. 

Today, we’re getting ready for that game by looking back on some notable players and coaches who connect the Tampa Bay Bucs with your New York Jets, starting with the main man.

Todd Bowles

The former New York Jets head coach (2015-18) has taken the Buccaneers to three consecutive play-off appearances behind a 29-24 record. 

You know exactly what you’re going to get with Bowles, who took charge of the Jets for four seasons before landing in Tampa Bay in 2019 as part of the Bruce Arians staff. When Arians decided to step into a Senior Football Consultant role in 2022, Bowles took over and Tampa won three straight divisional titles for the first time in their history. 

Bowles is very similar to the coach we saw in New York. He still loves to play cover-3 zone, he still loves to blitz and his bend but don’t break defensive philosophy has served him well. 

Darrelle Revis

This still feels as painful today as it did back in 2013. When you think of Darrelle Revis, one of the greatest cornerbacks to ever play the game, you think about his legacy in New York and you unfortunately think about the title he won in New England. But people often forget that for one year he was a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. 

That 2013 season wasn’t the best year of his career as Revis allowed 4 touchdowns for the first time since his rookie campaign in 2007. The Jets used the pick they got for Revis on Sheldon Richardson, a player who would spend 4 years with the Jets before moving on to Seattle. 

Vinny Testaverde

If Chad Pennington didn’t exist, then Vinny Testaverde would be my answer to the question “Who’s your favourite Jets QB of all-time?”. Vinny meant everything to the Jets, his 29 TD season in 1998 propelled the Jets to their first AFC East crown since the NFL merger and a Championship game loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Broncos. I also maintain that had he not been injured in 1999 the Jets would have secured their second Championship. 

Vinny, however, started in Tampa Bay after being drafted with the 1st overall pick in the 1987 draft; the same draft that included QB Jim Harbaugh (taken by the Bears with the 26th overall pick). He also played against the Buccaneers in his first game of his second stint with the Jets in 2005, and played the final game of his career against the team that first drafted him.

The Brooklyn native spent 7 years with the Jets overall and is still remembered fondly by many who got the opportunity to watch him play. 

Keyshawn Johnson

Here’s another #1 overall pick who played for both sides. After posting 168 catches for 2,796 yards and 16 touchdowns in just two years at USC, the Jets took Keyshawn with the first pick in 1996, making him the first receiver to be taken #1 overall since Irving Fryar was taken by the Patriots in the 1984 draft. 

Keyshawn’s time with the Jets could be described as turbulent, but he was a highly productive player on the field. In four years in NY he put up 305 receptions for 4,108 yards and 31 touchdowns. 

In 2002 Johnson went on to win a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers and the Jets used the two picks they received for the wide receiver on John Abraham (13th overall) and Anthony Becht (27th overall). 

Marvin Powell

Here’s another first-round pick that played for both the Jets and Bucs. Marvin Powell was the fourth overall pick in 1977 and became one of the premier offensive tackles in football over his 11 years in the NFL, earning 3× first-team All-Pro selections and 5× Pro Bowl selections. 

1985 was a tough year for everyone on that offensive line as the Jets allowed 62 sacks which led them to use their first two draft picks in the 1986 draft on offensive tackles Mike Haight (22nd overall) and Doug Williams (49th overall). To make space, the Jets cut Powell. 

He played just two years in Tampa before announcing his retirement and dedicating himself to his law career. A man of many, many talents. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick

I’m not sure there’s an NFL franchise that Ryan Fitzpatrick hasn’t played for but we’ll always have that 2015 season where Fitzmagic was in full effect as the Jets pushed to a 10-6 record but still missed the playoffs. Over two years with the Jets, Fitzpatrick threw for 6615 yards and 43 touchdowns. 

Following his release from the Jets in February 2017, Fitzpatrick landed in Tampa under Dirk Koetter and while he only started 10 games over two years in Florida, he had some highlight reel throws reminding everyone the magic was still alive, prompting Miami to sign him as a free agent and name him their starting QB over Josh Rosen.