The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 6-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced on Monday.

  • McCoy's release was somewhat expected, but leaves the Bucs with a void on the defensive line
  • The defensive tackle is one of only five players in team history to make six consecutive Pro Bowl appearances
  • McCoy was drafted third overall in the 2010 Draft

McCoy was one of the franchise's most prominent players since being drafted with the third overall pick in the 2010 draft out of Oklahoma.  His career with the Bucs included three 1st-Team All-Pro selections.  He is one of only five players in team history to earn six consecutive Pro Bowl berths (Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, Lee Roy Selmon and Mike Alstott).

The 31-year old leaves Tampa Bay with impressive career numbers.  His 54.5 sacks rank fourth in team history, and he racked up 79 tackles for loss and 296 total tackles from his interior line position.

Off the field, McCoy may have made an even bigger impact.  He became a fixture in the Tampa Bay community through his charity endeavors and was named Buccaneers Man of the Year in 2018.

Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht said in a statement, "The decisions are very difficult, personally and professionally.  Over the past nine years, Gerald has been a cornerstone of this franchise and a leader in our community.  Parting ways with a player and person such as Gerald is one of the toughest responsibilities of this job.  We wish Gerald, along with his wife, Ebony, and the entire McCoy family continued success and thank them for everything they have meant to our organization and community.

New head coach Bruce Arians added, "I know Gerald has done a lot of good things on and off the football field in Tampa during his time here.  You hate to see good football players go, but this is a decision that we felt needed to be made in order to allow us, and Gerald, the ability to move forward.  Gerald is a class-act and I wish him the best."

McCoy was due to make $13M this season, in the fourth year of his 6-year, $95.2M deal.  However, the contract was not guaranteed after the third year, so the Bucs free up some much-needed cap space with the transaction.

The Buccaneers could also be without Jason Pierre-Paul for most, if not all, of the 2019 season.  The defensive end suffered a fractured neck in a car accident in early May.