Home Opinion Editorial Best Canadian Players in Tampa Bay Buccaneers History

Former Buccaneers' offensive lineman Ian Beckles / via Getty Images — Buccaneers' offensive lineman Ian Beckles / via Getty Images

Best Canadian Players in Tampa Bay Buccaneers History

October 20, 2022

The Buccaneers of Tampa Bay play American football at the professional level. The Buccaneers are a team in the National Football League (NFL) and play in the NFC South division of the NFL.

Along with the Seattle Seahawks, the club entered the National Football League as an expansion team in 1976 and competed in the American Football Conference (AFC) West in its first season. While Seattle remained in the AFC, Tampa Bay moved to the NFC Central division. The Buccaneers are one of four former NFC West clubs that came together to establish the NFC South when the league realigned before the 2002 season.

It must be noted that Canadian players also played a significant part in the team’s victory. In this article, we’ll tell you which are the best Canadian players in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history.

Antony Auclair

Canadian Antony Auclair is a free-agent tight end in the American football league. On May 1, 2017, Auclair became a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. He’s the sole undrafted rookie on the Buccaneers’ 53-man roster.

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Auclair went on injured reserve on November 5th, 2019. On March 18, 2020, the Buccaneers re-signed Auclair to a one-year deal. The 31st of October marked his official activation into service. Super Bowl LV was won by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by Auclair, with a 31-9 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ian Beckles

In the National Football League (NFL), Canadian-born former Guard Ian Harold Beckles played for a total of nine seasons. After playing at Indiana, Beckles was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 1990 NFL draft and the first round of the 1990 CFL draft, respectively, and he began his professional career as a right guard. Brightening up an interior line that had been struggling with guards Tom McHale, John Bruhin, and Carl Bax was the rookie.

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Beckles spent about a month in camp with the Broncos in 2000 as the backup to left guard Mark Schlereth after leaving football in 1999. Beckles retired after having severe cramps from dehydration while stepping in for Schlereth in practice. He had previously only played right guard in the NFL.

Steve Christie

A former placekicker in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Canadian-born Geoffrey Stephen “Steve” Christie is well-known for his ability to kick game-winning field goals in a variety of conditions.

Christie, a native of Oakville, Ontario who attended The College of William & Mary, debuted in the National Football League (NFL) in 1990 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first season, he kicked a perfect 27 extra points and 23 of 27 field goals. The Buccaneers would use him for two full seasons.

Christie kicked for Buffalo from 1992 to 2000. He would rise to prominence as a kicker with the Bills. He played an important role in the Bills’ historic comeback triumph over the Houston Oilers, in which Buffalo overcame a 32-point deficit to record the biggest comeback victory in NFL history.

Christie kicked a field goal from 59 yards out in a regular season game in 1993, setting a new Bills record.

Jeff Spek

A former tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the National Football League (NFL), Jeff Martin Spek is a well-known name in the sport. Later, he played for the USFL’s New Jersey Generals. Spek was a free agent when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him on October 25, 1986. After blowing out his knee while playing special teams against the Buffalo Bills, his professional career came to an end, and he played in the NFL as a backup from that point on. After that, he was put on the IR for being injured.