The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be bringing back an iconic look for its home opener during Week 3 against the New York Jets, the team announced on Tuesday.
To celebrate the franchise’s 50th NFL season, the Buccaneers will don their original 1976 uniform, featuring white jerseys, helmets and pants with orange and red stripes.
For those who built our legacy — and the ones forging its future. pic.twitter.com/eB4QlAc5t0
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) July 15, 2025
These uniforms were worn for just the Buccaneers’ inaugural NFL season in 1976. The full orange Creamsicle design has been used for multiple times since in 2009, but this will be the first time these white uniforms will have been worn in 50 years.
The 2025 uniforms will have a special Creamsicle 50th season patch as well as “Hey! Hey! Tampa Bay!” stitched inside the jersey collar — a nod to the Buccaneers’ 1979 fight song.
The original returns. The ’76 Jersey is here. pic.twitter.com/G1dmGDRFwi
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) July 15, 2025
“The ’76 Jersey represents a piece of Buccaneers history and serves as a tribute to the generations of fans and players who shaped this franchise,” said Buccaneers Chief Operating Officer Brian Ford in a statement. “As we launch into our 50th season, we’re proud to reintroduce The ’76 Jersey and the tradition it embodies. It is a reminder that every Buccaneers fan, from the originals to the newest generation, is part of an evolving story that started in 1976 and continues being written today.”
Tampa started off well as a franchise in 1976 by drafting future Pro Football Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon with the first overall pick. Selmon joined a roster that saw Steve Spurrier start 12 games at quarterback; Louis Carter lead the team in rushing with 521 yards and Morris Owens and J.K McKay were the top two receivers with over 300 receiving yards each.
While 1976 was memorable as the Buccaneers’ first season, it was forgettable on the field. The team went 0-14 and were shutout five times. The winless start was the beginning of an 0-26 run over their first two years in the league.
The full Creamsicles won’t be locked out of the Buccaneers’ 2025 jersey rotation. The team will wear them on Dec. 11 against the Atlanta Falcons during “Thursday Night Football.”