Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tristan Wirfs on Bucs' O-Line: We Want to Be Known as Bad-Asses

Tristan Wirfs' return to practice this week has finally restored the starting five up front that led to so much offensive success in 2024, and the All-Pro left tackle is ready for the Bucs' O-Line to make a big impact on the NFL again

Aug 26, 2026 at 01:29 PM

Senior Writer/Editor

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to hit the lottery this season and these are the number they plan to play: 78-68-62-69-77. That combination worked for the team two years ago and they think it will bring them even more wealth in 2026.

Those numbers, of course, belong to the projected starting five on the offensive line. Notably, it's the same five that started together during a dominant 2024 campaign, and a group that did not get to play a single snap together in 2025 due to injuries. On Tuesday and Wednesday, at a pair of joint practices with the Jaguars in Jacksonville, the Bucs finally got to see that group on the field intact during full-team drills, thanks to the recent return of All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs. After missing roughly four weeks due to a hamstring strain sustained in a pre-training camp conditioning run, Wirfs has slid back into his customary spot next to left guard Ben Bredeson. Continuing down the line that five-some also includes center Graham Barton, right guard Cody Mauch and right tackle Luke Goedeke.

"I feel great right now," said Wirfs after Wednesday's practice. "It wasn't how I was hoping to start camp; that was really frustrating. But it's really nice to be back out here with the boys. Yeah, I feel good.

"It's just fun to watch all of us back together on the same line. We've been together for a while now and it's fun. The more reps we get together, the more comfortable we got and that non-verbal communication starts coming back. I know what Ben's going to do, he knows what I'm going to do. We're all just kind of one same page: Five guys seeing stuff through the same set of eyes. It's pretty fun, and that's what you want. That's what you want to get to, that's what you want to have in an O-Line. I know we're all just excited to be back together."

In 2024, the Buccaneers' offense ranked fourth in rushing yards per game and third in yards per carry, and Baker Mayfield was given time to throw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. That same quintet of offensive linemen were considered the engine that drove that powerful defense and were regarded as one of the best front lines in the league. Those numbers all dipped in 2025 when Wirfs missed the first three games and two others in December, Mauch sustained a season-ending injury in Week Two, Bredeson eventually followed him to injured reserve and Goedeke was sidelined for six weeks. With that group now reunited, Wirfs thinks the Bucs' O-Line can return to the level of dominance it showed two seasons ago.

"That's definitely the goal to be one of the top units in the NFL," he said. "We want teams to turn on the tape and say, 'Those are a bunch of bad-ass guys that finish plays.' It's nice to have all of us back out there. We went through a pretty big shuffle throughout the whole season last year, but at the same time guys stepped up and came in and did their best and gave us everything they had. I think it's just a credit to our room. Guys come in and there's a standard we all want to uphold. We all want to play for each other. But, yeah, it's nice to have the whole gang back.

"The goal is always the Super Bowl; I think that's what it is for every team. But we ended with a pretty s****y taste in our mouth last year. I think everyone put in a lot of work. We've got a really good group of guys at the facility training. I think it's going to be fun."

Wirfs said the work Buccaneer trainers put him through over the last month, while not necessarily very enjoyable, has him in excellent shape as he gets back into the mix. Head Coach Todd Bowles said he thinks his prized blocker is close to being fully back to his All-Pro selft.

"He got a few reps in yesterday and he's definitely getting better," said Bowles. " He's on the mend and I think with another week he should be ready to go. When he's your leader on the offensive line and he's your best player on the offensive line, it definitely makes a difference."

There has also been a lot for Wirfs and company to learn as new Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson installs his scheme, particularly in terms of a rushing attack that plans to be more varied than last year. The main objectives for the offensive line, however, are quite simple for Wirfs to articulate, and how well they are met may determine if the Bucs can start another run of division titles after failing to capture one last season.

"I know we want to move the line of scrimmage and I know we want to keep '6' (Mayfield) safe," said Wirfs. "If we do that, I think we're going to win some ball games. Let him go be the dawg that he is and then let our running backs eat. We're just trying to be great."

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - August 25, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Quarterbacks Coach Chandler Whitmer of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during 2026 Training Camp joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers