In our exclusive interview, the former Super Bowl MVP discusses Tampa Bay's offseason moves and the other big stories from around the NFL.
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What are your thoughts on how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers attacked the free agency and NFL Draft periods?
I think they did really well.
When I think of Tampa Bay, I think of players like Warren Sapp, Simeon Rice, Greg Spires, Booger McFarland, and coaches like Rod Marinelli and Monte Kiffin. They all believed everything started with the front four. Everything starts in the trenches with that defensive line, and I agree with this mentality.
And by taking Rueben Bain Jr. early in the draft, the Buccaneers did a great job of addressing a big need on that defensive line. People talked about concerns over his measurables, but I really do believe he can come in and be a great player. He will be a big help to the Buccaneers next season.
He can come in and learn from Vita Vea, who’s an experienced guy that plays at a high level. YaYa Diaby is also there. So, there’s people already in the building who can help Bain Jr.’s development as a player in the NFL.
If these guys can jell together, they can be one tough defensive front that other teams in the NFC won’t want to come up against.
Lavonte David retiring is a huge loss, but the Buccaneers have done a great job of bringing in Alex Anzalone via free agency and Josiah Trotter via the draft.
Due to injuries and players leaving, I think the secondary has been a weak link over the last two or three years. So, I like the Keionte Scott pick as well.
Todd Bowles has received criticism, and many fans think he will be on the hot seat as soon as the 2026 NFL Regular Season starts. What are your thoughts on this?
I laugh whenever people say things like this about Coach Todd Bowles. He’s been head coach for four seasons and won the NFC South in three of those seasons. There are teams in the NFL who haven’t won in years and are desperate for just one division championship.
Because of the ‘microwave’ world we live in, people want championships right now. They don’t understand the process. They don’t understand what it takes to be a successful team.
You have to keep chipping away until you finally get it right. There’s also been a lot of turnover in players. You chip away through free agency, then guys leave and you have to start molding a team together again.
Fans have a lot of influence now because of social media. With the way some fans are criticizing Bowles, if you don’t have a strong owner who understands the game, he will be gone.
But I believe the Buccaneers do have strong ownership in the Glazer family. They understand the game. They understand that they can’t let fans’ chirping lead to them losing a good football coach.
It’s all a balancing act. You have to weigh the pros and cons and see who is available. But, like I said, I know a lot of teams would love to be in the Buccaneers’ situation of winning three of the last four division titles.
I guess because they won a championship recently, the expectation is ‘win a Super Bowl or you have to go.’
Mike Tomlin has stepped away from coaching and has accepted a role with NBC. However, if the Buccaneers make a coaching change in the future, could Tomlin be a name to watch?
If this were to happen down the road, that would not be a bad decision at all.
But I don’t like to look that far down the road. I like to look at what’s in front of me. That’s reality, and right now, that’s Todd Bowles.
If Bowles goes on to win in 2026, you will not hear Tomlin’s name linked with the team again. So, it’s all about who is in the driver’s seat now and whether they can take care of business.
Let’s say Todd doesn’t do well and they start searching for a coach. Mike Tomlin has ties to Tampa Bay. His first NFL coaching job was with the Buccaneers, and he won a Super Bowl as defensive backs coach. He is popular in the Tampa community.
So, if Todd doesn’t perform, Mike Tomlin could be a great move.
With changes in head coach and quarterback, the Arizona Cardinals are ready to enter a new era. What did you make of the decision to move on from Kyler Murray?
I don’t think Kyler Murray is a really good quarterback in the NFL. A lot of guys I spoke with agree with this as well. He was able to get away with some things in college by running around and making plays.
He did it for a little bit in the NFL too, but it’s not the recipe for long-term success. When I look at quarterbacks who are similar to Murray, I think of players like Anthony Richardson and Tim Tebow. Their careers end quickly. I know Richardson is still active, but neither of them are long-term franchise quarterbacks.
The difference between Murray and elite mobile quarterbacks such as Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson is that they can throw the ball consistently well and make good decisions.
That’s not to say Murray can’t throw at all, and he’s probably a better thrower than guys like Richardson and Tebow, but his height is also a big factor. He’s so short that he has to move around to find lanes to throw the ball. His height definitely hindered his ability to be a franchise quarterback.
He’s a great athlete, but I think he’s an average quarterback. The draft is all about potential, and the Cardinals picked him because of the potential he had. It just didn’t work out, so they moved on.
They paid him a lot of money, and they’ll have some dead money against the cap. But moving on from him was the right decision, and they’re better off for it.
The Cincinnati Bengals made some big defensive additions, including players such as Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen. What do you think about these additions, and are they enough to help the Bengals contend again?
Well, when you talk about the offseason for the Bengals, you have to mention them losing Trey Hendrickson.
He was such a force coming off the edge. He demanded double teams, and offenses always needed to know where he was lining up and rushing from. He’s now part of the Baltimore Ravens, who are known for strong defense.
For some reason, the Bengals are always more interested in offensive guys. It’s always offense, offense, offense for them.
They’re in a division with the Ravens, Steelers, and Browns. It gets cold and windy in those games. I understand offense sells tickets, but if you want to win a championship, you must be able to play very well on defense too.
They have some great talent on that offensive side of the ball in Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. But if they want to get back to the Super Bowl and win it, they need to improve that defense. They seem to drop the ball a lot when it comes to letting good defensive players leave.
With Hendrickson gone, they’re losing a player who can get you 16/17 sacks a season just by himself.
They’ve made some moves by adding players like Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen. They also went out and drafted Cashius Howell and Tacario Davis. They’re hoping these guys can come in and contribute straight away.
But I still think they will struggle without Hendrickson. Even if you ignore the production, Hendrickson was the leader on that side of the ball.
When I look at the Bengals defense right now, I don’t know who the leader will be. Coaches can only coach so much. You need a player who can lead on the field and in the locker room. The Bengals lost that vital leader, and it will be hard to replace that.
The Bengals must do a better job of finding and keeping elite defensive players.
What impact will Hendrickson have on the Baltimore Ravens’ chances in 2026?
The Baltimore Ravens are already a team that is knocking at the door. Their defense played fairly well in 2025, but I think they were missing that jolt of energy they historically have had from the D-line.
With Hendrickson being added to that defense, alongside the offensive talent they have, I think they are a top-three team right now, not just in the AFC, but in the entire NFL. It’s amazing what one piece can bring to a team and how they can uplift them.
Offensively, Lamar Jackson needs to continue doing what he does. But he must give the ball to the running back more. You have a big horse in the backfield in Derrick Henry. Run that horse. If you have a stallion in the stable, you have to run him.
In this world we live in, everyone wants to make it about the quarterback. And as great as Lamar is, they need to be putting that ball in Henry’s hands a lot. When it gets cold, nobody will want to tackle 252-pound Henry 25-30 times a game.
So, that’s why they need to remember it’s not just about the quarterback. It’s about winning. Too many offensive coordinators go away from that because they want to make their quarterback the star of the show. This is becoming too common in the NFL.
After a successful 2025 season, the New England Patriots have had to deal with a lot of off-the-field drama in the offseason. Can distractions like this derail a team?
There are a lot of things going on right now with Coach Mike Vrabel. Some of the things that have been reported and brought to light over the few weeks have been surprising.
As a guy who played in the NFL for 10 years, I can tell you that one of the first things that all head coaches tell the players throughout the year is to not engage in any kind of activity or behavior that will embarrass the team or become a distraction for the team.
I can assure you that this situation has been a distraction for the Patriots. It will probably last the whole year, and questions will be asked about it all season long.
This is a team that just had a great year. They have a young quarterback who came in and played well, and they are trying to win one more game this year than they won last season.
But with this distraction, you have to think of how it’s going to affect not only their young quarterback, but other players and the coaching staff, too.
Florida State University decided to retain head coach Mike Norvell for the 2026 season. Were you surprised?
Yes and no. I’m split down the middle at the moment.
In this NIL world, Florida State must be willing to go out and get a quarterback. Other colleges such as Miami and Georgia have been able to do this in the last couple of years.
In order for FSU to compete, they have to increase their spending in order to stay close to these other teams.
They need to do a better job recruiting both high school players and transfers. Don’t just look at a guy and say, ‘Well, he played here, so he must be great.’ No, go recruit. Talk to their family, their counselors, and former coaches. Find out what type of personality they have and whether they can lead a team.
There used to be detailed evaluations of kids before you gave them scholarships or money. Now they’re just looking at basic measurables like size and where they played.
They also have to remember that all good players are not good for your team because cancer kills teams from within. That’s why it’s so important to learn what type of men they are, and whether they are going to buy into your program and system. So, I think Florida State can do a better job of recruiting people.
As far as Norvell is concerned, he’s a good guy and a good coach, but there’s an old saying which goes, ‘Nice guys finish last.’
It would be nice to see him a bit more arrogant and fiery at times. Not only to fire up his players but to fire up his assistant coaches too. You’re only as good as the people you put around you.
Your nephew and former Florida State player, Darrell Jackson Jr., was selected by the New York Jets in this year’s draft. What can he bring to Aaron Glenn’s defense?
First of all, the Jets are going to be much better in 2026, and that’s not just because they drafted my nephew out of Florida State.
I didn’t see a lot of them last year, but I do know Aaron Glenn pretty well. I know they had a good defensive front, and they still do despite losing a couple of guys on the defensive side.
With the experience they have across the defense with guys like Demario Davis, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Harrison Phillips, and Joseph Ossai, Jackson Jr. can come in and learn a lot from these veteran players.
When you look at Jackson Jr., he looks like somebody drew him. He looks like a superhero. He’s 6’5″, 337 lbs. It’s just amazing. I wish I were built like that. If he comes in and learns from those vets, buys into the system and is willing to improve, I think Jackson Jr. can be a vital piece of that defense.
The Jets’ biggest problem wasn’t their defense last season. I think it was their offense. If that talented defense can stay healthy and they have decent quarterback play, they may surprise a lot of people. The teams that are overlooked can often be the most dangerous.
The Dallas Cowboys selected Caleb Downs in this year’s draft. As a former defensive back, what do you like about his game?
Everything, absolutely everything.
The biggest thing I love about him is that he loves the game. He has passion.
When you have a passion for something, you just get better at it. He has that passion. He’s a student of the game. He runs well. He tackles well. He can play numerous positions on defense.
Dallas needed a guy like Downs. It’s been a long time since they had a safety like this. The last time they did was Darren Woodson, who retired over 20 years ago.
Downs can play in the box. He can cover and tackle. He has range. If need be, he can cover receivers in the slot too. So, that’s why he reminds me of that Darren Woodson mold. Dallas hasn’t had a defensive back like this in a long time.
It’s something that’s needed when you look at their division as well. Jayden Daniels, Jaxson Dart, and Jalen Hurts are all mobile quarterbacks who can all take off and run with the ball. So, the Cowboys needed someone like Downs who can do a lot and bring so many things to the table.
He can help uplift the Dallas Cowboys’ defense.
You are currently part of a college coaching staff. When looking at the wider college game, are there any prospects you’re looking forward to watching in 2026, and why?
College football is so unpredictable. There are always going to be players that pop up out of nowhere. It’s hard to focus on other players when you’re coaching as well. So, honestly, I’m just focused on the Tennessee State University football program right now.
I’m not really watching other programs as we have to get our ship right first. And right now, it’s all about preparing our sails so we can put our ship in the water and be one of those contenders.
We have some good players coming back. One of them is Kaiki Baker. He’s a big 6’3″, 200-pound safety that I have. He’s going to require a lot of attention from opposing offenses.
We have a lot of talent. I do think the mainstream can do a better job of highlighting HBCU guys too.
You almost signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who now know Aaron Rodgers is returning for the 2026 season. With Rodgers teaming up with Mike McCarthy again, do you think the Steelers can contend next season?
I don’t think so. Rodgers’ best days are behind him, and I don’t think they have the weapons around him at wide receiver to help him look like the old Aaron Rodgers.
They need to find a way to improve that receiver room and get some big-time playmakers. Yes, he can still make some throws, but you can’t rely on Aaron Rodgers to run around, avoid people, and throw the football like he used to.
They need to make sure they can run the ball well, which will set up the play-action. That will help protect Rodgers. Even then, they still need to get a receiver who commands double teams. I’m not sure if DK Metcalf is that type of receiver.
So, they need to put some more talent around Rodgers and give him receivers he feels confident in. Because, we all know Aaron Rodgers, if he doesn’t feel comfortable with a receiver, he will not throw him the ball.
Like yourself, Kenneth Walker III is one of the four Super Bowl MVPs to change teams after winning the prestigious award. How does it feel making that change after winning one of the highest honors in sport?
When you win a Super Bowl with a team, and especially when you’re MVP, you feel like you’ve earned the right to stay there for another year.
But also, you can command a better payday if you are a free agent, and that feels like a reward for going out there, busting your behind and doing what you were supposed to do.
It’s mixed feelings. The payday is great. But you build a special type of relationship with your teammates when you win a Super Bowl. You can say you’re the best in the world and then you’re stripped of that relationship and have to go elsewhere.
I was grateful to be able to play for that Buccaneers team and win a championship. But I had to leave the nest. You have got to do what you have got to do. You just need to try to take that same attitude and mentality to another program and win there as well.
What impact can Walker III have on the Chiefs’ offense?
I think this is what the Chiefs were missing.
They have receivers in Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. They have a great quarterback in Patrick Mahomes. However, we’ll have to see how he returns because his injury happened late in the season.
They have one of the best offensive minds of all time in Andy Reid. They still have Travis Kelce at tight end, who can be great when needed.
But I think they were just missing a good running back.
When they won their first Super Bowls with Reid and Mahomes, they had good play from their running backs. This has changed in the last couple of seasons.
I think they have filled that void by adding Walker. He’s a big, physical, bruising running back.
With Mahomes coming back from injury, they’ll want to get that run game going. Once they do, that will open up the play-action. Defenders will step up to stop the run, and Mahomes will be able to go over the top and find those fast receivers.
