Jason Pierre-Paul is looking to revive his NFL career.
Two years after playing his last NFL game, the former Giants defensive end signed with the Buccaneers practice squad on Monday, according to multiple reports.
Pierre-Paul, 36, hasn’t been shy about showing off his intense workouts on Instagram. He last played for the Dolphins and Saints respectively in 2023, thought it was just three games total. His last full season in the league was in 2022 when he played 14 games for the Ravens.
The former first-round pick of the Giants in 2010 is no stranger to Tampa Bay, spending four seasons in with the team from 2018-21.
His tenure there included the last of his three Pro Bowl selections in 2020 and his second Super Bowl championship that same year. The Buccaneers will certainly take a hard look at whether they believe he can help them this season.
Pierre-Paul would be joining a Buccaneers team, led by Baker Mayfield, trying to win the NFC South for the fifth straight season. They are currently tied with the surging Panthers, who are at 7-6 following a 24-20 loss to the Saints last week. Tampa Bay is set to host the Falcons on Sunday. Their defense is already one of the better units in the NFL with a plus-9 turnover differential, but they are allowing 25 points per game – 10th worst in the league.
The former South Florida product spent his first eight seasons with the Giants, having his best season in 2011 on his way to helping Big Blue upset the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Paul was named First Team All-Pro after a 16 ½-sack season.
In the summer of 2015, he suffered a firework accident that led to the amputation of his right index finger, but he remained a force on the field. He was traded to the Buccaneers in March 2018.
Paul has 94.5 career sacks, 21 forced fumbles and five interceptions.
