1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the team's 22nd in the National Football League. Having gone 6-10 season the previous season, Tampa Bay finished second in the NFC Central, and secured their first playoff birth since the strike-shortened 1982 season.

The 1997 season was notable for several reasons. For the first time, the Buccaneers wore their new pewter and red uniforms, along with their new "flag and skull" helmets, which replaced the orange and white color combination -- and winking buccaneer helmet -- that they had used since they were first added to the NFL.

During the regular season, the Buccaneers surprised many by starting off with a 5-0 record. By the end of the season, they had amassed a record of 10-6 and went to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. After beating the Detroit Lions 20-10 in the Wild Card round, they lost to the eventual NFC Champions, the Green Bay Packers, 21-7 in the Divisional Playoff round.

Head coach Tony Dungy was named NFL Coach of the Year.

Schedule

 * = blacked out locally