The 2006 season was a forgettable one for the Buccaneers as they crashed back down to 4-12, the franchise's worst finish since 1991, and spent most of the season with sixth-round rookie Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback after a scary spleen injury to Chris Simms in Week Three. Gradkowski competed admirably but the offense slumped to 29th in the league and struggled to run the ball amid injuries to Cadillac Williams, Michael Clayton and Dan Buenning. The Buccaneers lost their first four games before victories over the Bengals and Eagles, the latter of which included two Rondé Barber pick-sixes and a historic 62-yard walk-off field goal by Matt Bryant. However, the Bucs then lost seven of their next eight and Gradkowski was replaced for the final two games by veteran Tim Rattay, a 2005 in-season trade acquisition. Two long-time Buccaneer stars also played their final games for the team; six-time Pro Bowl fullback Mike Alstott would retire after the following season due to a neck injury and defensive end Simeon Rice, who had reached double-digit sacks in each of the five previous seasons, played in just eight games and was limited to two sacks due to a shoulder injury.
