Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Retire Warren Sapp’s No. 99
By Josh Sanchez
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have only retired one jersey in the orgaization’s history — Lee Roy Selmon’s No. 63 — but they are prepared to add another number to that list. It was announced on Thursday that Tampa Bay has decided they will retire the No. 99 jersey of star defensive tackle and Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp when he joins the team’s Ring of Honor later in 2013.
The decision to retire Sapp’s number came today from Buccaneers co-chairman Bryan Glazer:
Sapp’s jersey number will be retired on November 11th when Tampa Bay faces off against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football.
The Hall of Famer was taken back by the honor and overcome with emotion, much like he was when he was inducted in to the Hall of Fame, and he had a special group of people he wanted to thank for the honor.
I am not always a big fan of teams retiring jersey numbers, but Sapp was a cornerstone for this franchise and a key member that contributed to their success.
If anyone deserves to have their number retired as a member of the Buccaneers, it is Warren Sapp.