The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2025 season came to a close on a tiebreaker after the Atlanta Falcons defeated the New Orleans Saints in Week 18, sealing the club's fate. Tampa Bay is out of the postseason mix for the first time since 2019 and evaluation will commence in the coming days for the coaching staff. Exit interviews will occur over the next few days as the team moves into offseason mode.
"We just didn't execute and that is what you are supposed to do to be successful as an offense," noted receiver Jalen McMillan. "We just have to hit on all cylinders next year and figure it out."
After a 6-2 start to the season, the Bucs fell to 7-9 prior to the Week 18 clash with the Panthers on Saturday. A myriad of factors contributed to the club's roller-coaster year, including injuries, offensive lulls, lack of consistent pressure by the defensive front, mental lapses and self-inflicted wounds. McMillan, who worked his way back from a significant neck injury sustained in the second preseason game against the Steelers, took a retrospective glance at what he gleaned from 2025 and the rehabilitation process.
"Adversity is going to creep around the corner but it taught me that I am resilient and I am strong and that I can really face anything that comes my way," described McMillan.
McMillan rigorously worked his way back and suited up against the Falcons on Thursday Night Football in Week 15. In just his third game after returning from injury, McMillan recorded a career-high 114 receiving yards on a career-best seven receptions against Miami. It marked the first 100-yard receiving game of McMillan's career, with his previous high being 75 yards on Dec. 15, 2024 at the Los Angeles Chargers. McMillan's 33-yard catch in the second quarter matched his career long and the second-year receiver ignited the offense. He created a spark, galvanizing the squad with his route-running acumen and quickness in and out of breaks. McMillan credited future Hall of Famer Mike Evans for bolstering his confidence down the stretch.
"I think he helped me understand my worth as a receiver and he was able to teach me that it is okay to make mistakes but the biggest thing was just how good of a receiver I am – he was able to speak that into me and just encourage me," noted McMillan.
