The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in the middle of a 2-game losing streak, need help wherever they can get it — including on special teams.
The Buccaneers signed 3-time NFL All-Pro safety and special teams ace J.T. Gray to the practice squad on Friday, November 21, ahead of their Week 12 road game against the Los Angeles Rams.
This will be Gray’s fourth team this season following stints with the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos.
“The counter move for adding safety J.T. Gray to the practice squad was Bucs releasing offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account on November 21.
Gray, 29 years old, played for the Saints for 8 seasons.
“In seven seasons with the Saints, Gray played 98 games and became known as one of the NFL’s best special teams players,” Buccaneers.com’s Scott Smith wrote after Gray signed. “In 2021, he led the NFL with 16 kick-coverage spots, earning an invitation to the Pro Bowl as a special teamer. He was also a first-team Associated Press All-Pro in that category in 2021 and earned second-team selections in 2019 and 2024. In his career, he has 103 tackles, one tackles or loss, two quarterback hits, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.”
From Undrafted to NFL Special Teams Star
Gray, 6-foot and 202 pounds, is a Clarksdale, Mississippi, native who stayed in-state to play for Mississippi State, where he played both linebacker and defensive back. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.50 seconds at Mississippi State’s Pro Day and made the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
If the Saints weren’t in a year where they were trying to tank on an epic scale and cutting salaries everywhere they could, it’s likely Gray would have remained with his original team.
“One of the more perplexing moves the New Orleans Saints have made in recent weeks was the decision to cut J.T. Gray,” Saints Wire’s John Sigler wrote on September 2. ” … anyone who has watched a lot of Saints games since Gray made the team back in 2018 can tell how important he’s been to their success … He was named a team captain for the first time before that breakout 2021 campaign and core the captain’s patch through 2022, 2023, and 2024. He’s regularly ranked among league leaders in tackles on special teams. There just haven’t been many players who can shed a block and get downfield to cover a punt or kickoff like him. So why cut him?”
Buccaneers Falling Flat on Special Teams
The Buccaneers got slapped upside the head on special teams in a 44-32 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 11 — a game in which they were a sieve in the return game.
“New Bucs DB J.T. Gray is a 3-time first or second team All-Pro special teams player,” The AP’s Rob Maadi wrote on his official X acccount. “After giving up 3 kickoff returns of 40-plus against Buffalo, Tampa Bay adds help.”
Gray has earned high praise for his special teams play throughout his career.
“J.T. Gray, in the 30-plus years I’ve been coaching, is the best (special teams) coverage player that I’ve coached,” former Saints and current Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi said.
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