Shaun King was at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, watching his team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, dominate Super Bowl XXXVII. It was surreal. Just a few seasons ago, he had been under center, leading this franchise through tough playoff battles. Now, he was watching another quarterback — Brad Johnson — guide the Bucs to their first championship.
King had been part of the team’s journey. In 1999, as a rookie, he stepped in after an injury to starter Trent Dilfer and helped lead the Bucs to the NFC Championship Game. The team fell just short of the Super Bowl that year, but King had proven he belonged. He remained with Tampa Bay for a few more seasons, always ready when his number was called.
By the time the Bucs finally reached the Super Bowl in 2002, things had changed. A new coach, Jon Gruden, had arrived. A new system was in place. And King, once a starter, was now watching from the sideline.
But there was no bitterness. As Tampa Bay’s defense dismantled the Oakland Raiders, forcing five interceptions and returning three for touchdowns, King couldn’t help but smile. He had been part of the foundation, part of the growth.This victory belonged to the entire franchise—the players who came before, the ones on the field, and the fans who had waited so long.
When the final whistle blew — Bucs 48, Raiders 21 — Shaun King stood and cheered. He may not have been on the field that night, but in his heart, he knew: he had been part of the journey that led Tampa Bay to glory.