The Buccaneers improved by just one game in 1990, recording a 6-10 record, but they did take second place in the NFC Central standings due to a tiebreaker, the team's highest finish since 1981. That wasn't enough to save the job of Head Coach Ray Perkins, who was fired 13 games into his fourth season at the Bucs' helm. Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers Coach Richard Williamson took over as the interim head coach for the final three games, as the Bucs finished 1-2. The Bucs once again showed promise early on, winning four games against division opponents during a 4-2 start, but yet another six-game losing streak rendered that moot. Vinny Testaverde and trade acquisition Chris Chandler exchanged the starting quarterback spot several times in the middle of the season and the Bucs finished the season ranked 24th in the NFL on both offense and defense. Broderick Thomas, the team's top draft pick in 1989, recorded a team-high 7.5 sacks and Wayne Haddix made the Pro Bowl after intercepting seven passes and returning three of them for touchdowns.
