The Buccaneers made an unexpected move following the 2008 season, dismissing Head Coach Jon Gruden and General Manager Bruce Allen and promoting Raheem Morris and Mark Dominik to those positions. The new regime made several early splashes, releasing franchise icon Derrick Brooks and trading for pass-catching tight end Kellen Winslow II from the Browns. The Bucs then used their first-round pick to draft quarterback Josh Freeman, who Morris had worked with at Kansas State for one year. Rather than throw Freeman immediately into the fire, the team signed veteran Byron Leftwich to start the season and made 2008 fifth-round pick Josh Johnson the primary backup. Morris' tenure got off to a rough start, with losses in each of Leftwich's three starters. He was then replaced by Johnson but the Bucs continued to lose, falling to 0-7 after a 35-7 loss to the Patriots in London. Freeman saw his first action late in that game, then got his first start following a bye week against a playoff-bound Packers team. The Bucs won that game while wearing Creamsicle throwback uniforms for the first time, but then lost the next five on the way to a 3-13 finish. In Week 16, the Buccaneers became the first 1-12 team ever to beat a 13-1 team with a 20-17 overtime decision in New Orleans. The Buccaneers also introduced their Ring of Honor at Raymond James Stadium in this game, with Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon as the first inductee.
