FINALLY CHAMPIONS It could have been called the Pirate Bowl The Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced the Oakland Raiders in the Super Bowl The Bucs had the league's best defense in the 2002 season The Raiders had the best offense Something had to give FAST FACT Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden faced his old team in this Super Bowl He coached the Raiders from 1998 to 2001
Jon Gruden was just 39 years old when he coached the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl
Tampa Bay's defense led by linebacker Derrick Brooks and safety John Lynch won the day Oakland's quarterback Rich Gannon was the league's Most Valuable Player MVP But Gannon threw five interceptions that day The Buccaneers returned three of them for touchdowns Tampa Bay routed the Raiders 48 21 It was more than the defining moment of a great season It erased 26 years of frustration The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had finally become champions Dexter Jackson races toward the end zone with one of his two interceptions in the Super Bowl FAST FACT With two interceptions Bucs safety Dexter Jackson was named Super Bowl MVP He was just the third defensive back to win that award
Bucs defensive end Simeon Rice and his teammates made life miserable for Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon
