Five-time pro-bowler Ndamukong Suh rules out his return to Buccaneers

35-year-old Ndamukong Suh has finally revealed his decision to return to his team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On 20th June 2022, he appeared on NFL Live, and when asked about his future, he said that his return to the Buccaneers was out of the picture. He, however, added that he has a lot of talent and people have seen his talent before. As such, he would like to continue playing for the 13th season.

Suh is an acclaimed sportsman boasting of the All-Pro selection six times and being the Pro Bowler five times. He has been a starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since the 2019 season. Previously, Suh stated that he was desirous of joining the team for its fourth season. However, the team signed on the former Pro Bowler Akiem Hicks for a year in a deal costing USD 10 million. This appointment spelt the end of Suh’s tenure with the team and squashed any chances of his returning.

In March 2022, Buccaneers appointed Todd Bowles as their head coach. Congratulating Bowles on his appointment, Suh wrote on Twitter that the team is still missing one talent. This hinted at his possible return.


Suh did not miss a single game in the last three seasons when he was with the Buccaneers. In these seasons, he recorded 14.5 sacks in total. In 2021, he recorded 13 quarterback hits and 27 tackles. It declined from 19 quarterback hits and 44 tackles recorded in 2020. Last season, Suh’s performance saw a regression with a 50.2 run defensive grade and 49.4 defensive grade.

The new player for the Buccaneers, Hicks, is 32 years old, younger than Suh. He had also recorded higher grades totalling 66 runs defensive grade and 72.3 defensive grade, when he played with Chicago Bears in the previous season. Among interior linemen, Hicks’ defensive grade was ranked at 23.

With the Buccaneers, Suh had earned USD 8 million in 2020 and USD 9 million in 2021. He might be looking for similar figures in free agency. Since the Buccaneers have completed their defensive lines, playing Suh with Hicks and Vita Vae does not make sense with the money involved. As such, the team has bid goodbye to the athlete.