TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have recorded exactly five touchdowns of 97 or more yards across their 50-season franchise history, and only one of them came on an offensive play — Ronald Jones’ 98-yard run at Carolina’s Bank of America Stadium during the 2020 season.
Jones’ 10.5-second scamper from one end zone to the other tied for the longest touchdown in franchise history with Shelton Quarles’ 98-yard interception return against Green Bay on Oct. 7, 2001. Jones took a handoff a yard deep in his own end zone, darted through a seam on the left side and broke into the clear, propelling the Buccaneers to a 46-23 blowout over the Panthers. He became just the fourth player in NFL history to record a rushing touchdown of 98 or more yards, joining the Cowboys’ Tony Dorsett (99 yards against Minnesota in 1983), Green Bay’s Ahman Green (98 yards against Denver in 2003) and Tennessee’s Derrick Henry (99 yards against Jacksonville in 2018).
Quarles’ matching 98-yard score came on a goal-line interception of Brett Favre intended for tight end Bubba Franks. Quarles undercut Franks on a crossing route, snagged the pass at the Bucs’ two-yard line, stiff-armed Franks and sprinted down the right sideline with Rondé Barber as an escort. The pick-six proved decisive in a 14-10 victory that helped propel the Buccaneers to a Wild Card berth that season.
Three touchdowns are tied at 97 yards. Future Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks returned an interception 97 yards at Baltimore on Sept. 15, 2002, sealing a 25-0 shutout of the Ravens — just the second shutout victory on the road in franchise history. Brooks intercepted fill-in quarterback Chris Redman, who completed just 16 passes for 141 yards, at the three-yard line and sprinted the length of the field. That was the first of five defensive touchdowns Brooks recorded that season, including the Super Bowl, en route to NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors.
The two remaining 97-yard scores came on kickoff returns. Sammie Stroughter, a seventh-round pick in 2009 who scored just two touchdowns in his four-year career, returned a kickoff 97 yards against Carolina on Oct. 18, 2009, pulling the Bucs within seven points in the third quarter. Stroughter also led the team with 65 receiving yards on three catches that game. Clifton Smith, an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State, matched the distance with a 97-yard kickoff return at Kansas City on Nov. 2, 2008, after replacing second-round pick Dexter Jackson in the return role.
Of the five longest scores, only Stroughter’s did not come in a Buccaneers victory. The franchise has three other touchdowns of 90 yards or longer: Jacquez Green’s 95-yard punt return at Green Bay on Sept. 13, 1998; Devin White’s 91-yard fumble return against Atlanta on Dec. 29, 2019; and Micheal Spurlock’s 90-yard kickoff return versus the Falcons on Dec. 16, 2007. The longest passing touchdown in team history remains Vinny Testaverde’s 89-yard connection to Willie Drewrey against Atlanta on Dec. 2, 1990, with the same duo connecting for an 87-yarder at Green Bay on Sept. 15, 1991.
The Buccaneers, who began play in 1976 as the NFL’s 27th franchise, completed their 50th season in 2025.