Malcolm Glazer, who passed away on May 28, 2014, at the age of 85, purchased the team in 1995 for a then-record $192 million and immediately began one of the most impressive organizational transformations in professional sports. Two years after Glazer's purchase, the Buccaneers broke a 16-year postseason drought in 1997 and would go on to make the playoffs three of the next four seasons.
Determined to turn his team into a Super Bowl champion, Glazer made a bold move that changed the course of the franchise prior to the 2002 season. In a transaction that sent shockwaves throughout the NFL, he hired Jon Gruden away from the Oakland Raiders in exchange for two first-round draft picks, two second round draft picks and $8 million in cash. Less than 12 months later, in January 2003, he delivered the fans of Tampa Bay their first major professional world championship with a resounding victory over the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII. During his tenure as owner and president from 1995-2013, the Buccaneers earned seven playoff berths, played in two NFC Championship Games and won their first Super Bowl.
With his first Super Bowl in hand, Glazer set his sights on continued success and that drive led to another significant improvement. On March 17, 2004, the Buccaneers unveiled plans for their new, 136,200 square-foot state-of-the-art training center. The new facility, considered the largest free-standing training structure of its kind in professional sports at the time, opened to rave reviews in August of 2006, following training camp.
Known among his league peers for years as a pioneering thinker, Glazer infused his team and employees with the determination and dedication to be the best in the NFL and that still rings true today. Glazer's commitment to building a championship organization provided the foundation for continued success, on and off the field.
Glazer also left an equally deep and lasting impact as an advocate for the Tampa Bay community. In 1999, he established the Glazer Family Foundation, which has donated millions and reached out to countless thousands in need. He also was a driving force in the negotiations that secured Super Bowls XXXV and XLIII for Tampa. In 2010, Glazer added to his community driven legacy with the opening of the Glazer Children's Museum in downtown Tampa.
In May 2009, the Glazer family was honored with the prestigious Gonzmart Family Ambassador of the Year Award, as part of the 26th annual National Tourism Week, presented by Tampa Bay & Company. The Ambassador Award was presented to the Glazer Family in recognition of their efforts to help the tourism industry in the Bay area, as well as their impact on the community overall.