Jenna Lane, ESPN Staff Writer
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have re-signed former Pro Bowl outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, the team announced Saturday.
A source told ESPN that Barrett plans to give up the practice squad and sign to the 53-man roster.
Barrett, who led the NFL with 19.5 sacks in 2019, was placed on the reserve/retired list by the Miami Dolphins earlier this week and was taken off waivers on Friday. Barrett did not play for the Dolphins, who signed him to a one-year contract worth up to $9 million as a free agent in March. The deal came after his release by the Buccaneers, a move made strictly to free up salary cap space.
Appearing on the Up & Adams podcast in August, Barrett said there was a “perfect, perfect scenario” in which he could emerge from retirement.
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“I wouldn’t do that in any other scenario or any other team or anything like that,” Barrett told host Kay Adams at the time. “I have a lot of history there. Everything that happened to my daughter and how they got through it for their family. … It meant so much to me. Tampa… It has a special place in my heart.”
Barrett was referring to the death of his daughter Alaya in April 2023, which coincided with his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in 2022. One of the team’s most memorable moments in 2023 was when Barrett intercepted and returned a pass from Justin Fields. The touchdown — the first and only No. 6 pick of his career — clinched a 27-17 victory over the Chicago Bears during the week. Barrett pointed to the sky and dedicated the play to Araya. Several Buccaneers officials said the moment was the highlight of the season.
General manager Jason Licht said in announcing Barrett’s release that he “didn’t want to make that decision,” but that the team values Barrett very highly as a person and a player and is open to the possibility of a return. He said he would leave the door open.
With two games remaining until 2024, the Buccaneers still have a chance to make the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, but they need the Atlanta Falcons, who hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, to lose one game. It will be. Tampa Bay probably needs a win.
The Buccaneers are not getting the sack numbers they expected from their outside linebackers in 2024. Anthony Nelson leads the group with three sacks. Most of their production has come from inside, with defensive tackle Kaliyah Kancey having 6.5 sacks, defensive tackle Vita Vea having six sacks and inside linebacker Lavonte David having 5.5 sacks this season. There is.
In Barrett’s final season with the Buccaneers, he had 4.5 sacks and 52 total tackles, including 33 solo.
