Culverhouse almost gave Fontes the job without conducting an interview process, before having second thoughts and soliciting recommendations from McKay, Tex Schramm, and Dan Rooney.
[7] Bennett had served as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator under Chuck Knox before taking the Falcons’ job, where he became the only coach to lead that franchise to the playoffs.
[18] Vagas Ferguson, a former star running back at Notre Dame and a one-time 1st-round draft choice of the New England Patriots, was signed as a free agent.
Director of player personnel Jim Gruden described his as having the combination of size and speed, versatility, and a productive college career that the Buccaneers desired.
[24] Mike Heaven, a Delray Beach, Florida, native, was a defensive back who was expected to provide immediate help to a secondary that had aging safeties and struggling young cornerbacks.
[27] Phil Freeman was the University of Arizona starting tailback until suffering a broken leg in 1982, but was projected as a wide receiver with what Bennett called "rare speed".
[31] Donald Igwebuike was a soccer player who tried football at the encouragement of his fellow Nigerian and Clemson teammate Obed Ariri, against whom he would now be competing for the kicking job.
[33] The team followed the draft by signing 22 free agents, including Southern tight end Calvin Magee, LSU quarterback Alan Risher, and cornerback Irvin Phillips, who had been obtained via trade from the Los Angeles Raiders the previous year, but had been waived after failing a physical.
[40] The Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League had been operating without an owner since the previous fall, and speculation began to be raised in April that the team might be disbanded.
The financial details were not disclosed, but Steinberg said that Young's contract was comparable to those of John Elway, Warren Moon, and Bernie Kosar, who were all paid roughly $1 million per year.
[46] A soreness in Lee Roy Selmon's back that became apparent shortly after the Pro Bowl was originally thought to be a muscular injury, but turned out to be a herniated disc.
Bennett expressed concern over the lack of a pass rush, and the way that Steelers receivers were able to jump inside of Buccaneer defenders on slant routes.
Pittsburgh third-string quarterback Scott Campbell connected twice with Weegie Thompson for touchdowns on such routes, once burning Anthony Washington for 34 yards.
[66] Sully was a Pro Bowl alternate as a special teams player, but had been unable to break into the starting lineup, playing behind Nolan Cromwell and Johnnie Johnson.
[56] Jay Carroll, a tight end who had played in all 16 games as a rookie in 1984, announced his retirement from football,[55] as did backup fullback Scott Dierking.
These included team kicking leader Obed Ariri, beaten out by childhood friend Donald Igwebuike, to whom Ariri had introduced the sport of football; defensive end Byron Braggs, who had been considered a candidate for the starting right defensive end spot until his lack of pass rush became a liability; preseason starters Glenn Bujnoch and Danny Spradlin; Fred Acorn, a third-round selection the previous year who had started some late-season games; and Anthony Washington, a speedy and experienced player who nonetheless failed to live up to expectations.
[86][87] Team owner Hugh Culverhouse also required Green to repay $335,000 of the signing bonus from his 1984 two-year contract, which was believed to be the first such buyout in NFL history.
[94] Shortly afterward, it was revealed that Springs was one of several Cowboys players under investigation by the NFL and the FBI, for suspicion of shaving points in return for cocaine.
Bennett insisted that he would not play Young until he felt that he was ready, and at one point was booed for inserting Alan Risher into a game as Steve DeBerg's replacement.
The turning point of the game was considered by Bennett to be a DeBerg pass that was deflected by Richard Dent, and returned by Leslie Frazier for a touchdown.
[115] Three New Orleans offensive linemen suffered injuries in a 12-minute span, but Dave Wilson was still able to pass for 246 yards, and touchdowns to tight ends Hoby Brenner and Larry Hardy.
Morten Andersen contributed two field goals, while Terry Hoage forced a James Wilder fumble and intercepted a Steve DeBerg pass.
[121] The Bears held James Wilder to 29 yards, preventing him from tying an NFL record by joining O. J. Simpson and Earl Campbell as the only backs with seven consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
Green reported playing "the worst game of my career" and feeling lost in Miami's defensive scheme, although he produced the Dolphins' only interception of the day.
A last-minute rally appeared to have brought the Buccaneers in position to attempt a game-winning field goal, but a holding penalty on Sean Farrell erased Adger Armstrong's reception at the Giants' 38-yard line, and Terry Kinard intercepted a DeBerg pass on the next play.
[138] Nov. 17, 1985 at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey After the Buccaneers took a 14–0 lead on a recovery of a Ken O'Brien fumble and Steve DeBerg touchdown passes to Kevin House and Calvin Magee, the Jets' offense caught fire, scoring a team-record 62 points.
The Lions blamed the 80-degree heat, and crowd noise that drowned out several audibles, for a series of fourth-quarter breakdowns that allowed the Buccaneers to erase a 16–6 deficit.
[141] The Buccaneers scored on a 6-yard Wilder run, while the defense held the Lions scoreless, and Young drove the team into field goal range twice.
[146] Dec 8, 1985 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota An attempted rally from a 19–0 deficit died when a holding penalty called back a Kevin House pass reception at the Vikings' 3-yard line.
[153] Jimmie Giles, Pro Bowl James Wilder, Pro Bowl alternate[154] James Wilder, team Most Valuable Player[152] Theo Bell, the NFL Alumni Tampa Bay Buccaneers Chapter Ricky Bell Award for contributions on and off the field[153] Most team records set this season tended to be either of the individual variety, or related to the Nov. 17 game against the New York Jets: