The Bucs had been very effectively represented within the 2025 Professional Bowl Video games having nostril deal with Vita Vea, left deal with Tristan Wirfs, quarterback Baker Mayfield and broad receiver Mike Evans readily available in Orlando for the occasion. Tampa Bay additionally had Bucs’ defensive coordinator Larry Foote and quarterbacks coach Larry Foote as assistant coaches to NFC head coach Eli Manning.
With the altering of the Professional Bowl format to flag soccer recreation combined in with a number of totally different expertise competitions to attain factors, every participant was capable of become involved in a technique or one other. The Bucs and the NFC had been on the proper facet of issues on this recreation, taking the win 76-63 over the AFC. These had been among the high by moments by Bucs gamers all through the sport.
NFC finish zone on the Professional Bowl – Picture by: USA At this time
Bucs’ Wirfs and Vea Dominate In Their Competitions
There’s solely a lot the the gamers within the trenches can do through the Professional Bowl since it’s principally formed in the direction of flag soccer and the ability place gamers. With that mentioned, it doesn’t matter what problem is put in entrance of Tristan Wirfs and Vita Vea, they will dominate it.
Wirfs was up first at halftime as a part of the staff occasion referred to as the “Nice Soccer Race.” It’s primarily a relay race and impediment course the place a number of gamers have to finish quite a lot of duties earlier than the opposite staff to complete the race. Within the part that Wirfs was in, he was teamed up with Lions offensive lineman Frank Ragnow as they needed to flip a big tire 20 yards into the tip zone. They breezed by means of this part, permitting the subsequent group to go because the NFC finally received the competitors.
Subsequent up was Vea, as he was in a bunch with of Professional Bowl gamers from the NFC for the very entertaining Tug Of Conflict competitors. It was a greatest two out of three to resolve the winner, with two separate teams going within the first and second recreation. After the NFC received the primary matchup, Vea entered for the second recreation. Together with Vea was Nick Bosa of the 49ers, Rashan Gary of the Packers, Leonard Williams from the Seahawks and Dexter Lawrence of the Giants. They positioned Vea second to final on the ropes, which requires a variety of energy and it paid off because the NFC received as soon as once more to finish the sweep.
Because the AFC gamers fell into the pit, this induced for the NFC gamers on the ropes to go flying again. The printed caught it in sluggish movement making for a comical video of Vea getting moved again in a really uncommon sighting.
Bucs WR Mike Evans on the Professional Bowl – Picture by: USA At this time
Baker Mayfield Stands Out With An Help From Mike Evans
Whereas Mike Evans didn’t have an enormous stat line through the day because the veteran future Corridor of Famer performed seldomly, he did play an element on Baker Mayfield’s first landing of the sport when he entered within the fourth quarter.
Throughout the first play of the drive, Mayfield hit 49ers’ tight finish George Kittle on a brief throw that Kittle took up the sector after breaking tackles. When Kittle bought to round midfield, he lateraled then lateraled the ball to Evans, who took the ball contained in the 15-yard line.
The following play was a landing go from Mayfield to Kittle as Mayfield used his legs to increase the play and throw on the run. Evans was the primary one to search out Mayfield after the rating as they jumped in celebration.
Additionally from the #ProBowl, Baker Mayfield begins a drive at QB, completes a go to George Kittle, who finally laterals it to Mike Evans for an enormous play.
Mayfield then fired off a TD go to Kittle on the subsequent play, throwing on the run. Evans instantly ran over to Baker #Bucs pic.twitter.com/vLlcfD5O8W
— Matt Matera (@matty4_matera) February 2, 2025
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield on the Professional Bowl – Picture by: USA At this time
Mayfield didn’t win the MVP this yr like he did within the final recreation, however was nonetheless very a lot the focal point. He had 135 passing yards within the recreation to go along with three touchdowns as effectively, all within the fourth quarter. These landing passes went to Kittle, Giants broad receiver Malik Nabers and Cardinals broad receiver Trey McBride.
With the sport getting out of hand and the NFC securing a sufficiently big lead, that’s when the shenanigans started to begin. Every staff began doing trick performs with quarterbacks throwing the soccer, offensive gamers taking part in protection and even different ability gamers lining up at quarterback.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has mentioned for a very long time that Mayfield is an offensive lineman in a quarterback’s physique. Effectively, in one other enjoyable second, we had been capable of see Mayfield line up at heart and snap the ball for a play with Seahawks broad receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at quarterback. The play didn’t go as deliberate with Smith-Njigba throwing a pick-six, however not less than Mayfield was capable of look by means of the lens of Graham Barton for a second.
With 4 gamers representing the Bucs this season. It’s probably the most they’ve had in a Professional Bowl because the 2022 recreation (representing the 2021 season) when 9 gamers had been chosen in it, together with Evans, and eight performed within the recreation. Given the gathering of expertise that the Bucs have going into subsequent season, it wouldn’t be stunning if they’ve an enormous variety of alternatives once more.
