Dilfer says he's ready to retire after 14 years

Dilfer with the Bucs in the creamsicle days, 1995; below right as quarterback for the Super Bowl champion Ravens, 2001. [Times photos | Bill Serne]

Quarterback Trent Dilfer, the No. 6 overall pick in 1994 who spent six seasons with the Bucs, will retire after 14 seasons.

He said Wednesday that a recent Achilles tendon injury swayed him. "Everybody I've talked to says (camaraderie is) the hardest thing to get away from," he said. "But I knew this time was coming, and here it is."

Dilfer, 36, started 76 games for the Bucs, leaving after 1999. In 2000, he emerged from a backup role to help the Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV, in Tampa of all places. He spent four seasons with the Seahawks, one with the Browns and the past two with the 49ers. In seven games (six starts) last season, he threw for 1,166 yards, seven TDs and 12 interceptions.

Dilfer remains ranked among the best QBs in Bucs history:

Bucs touchdown passes
Vinny Testaverde: 77 in 76 games
Doug Williams: 73 in 67 games
Trent Dilfer: 70 in 79 games

Bucs passing yards
Vinny Testaverde: 14,820
Trent Dilfer: 12,969
Doug Williams: 12,648

Comments

[Bucs Fan]

Oh Boy...It's a sad day in the NFL with this news. I don't know how they will respond without Dilfer's presense. Ratings are sure to drop...

[Alex]

And then there were 3 orange Bucs left...

Dilfer was a good guy and a tough player. He provided the steadiness to allow the Bucs to turn it around.

12:28- Please hang up your Bucs gear. I don't want fans like you sitting next to me. Have a sense of history and tradition. Or at least keep your trap shut.

[George]

I liked Dilfer. He was put in a very difficult position to succeed at the time he arrived in Tampa. He was a hard worker and a good guy. I think he's gonna be a great analyst on NFL network this upcoming season. Best of luck to you Trent !

[kevin]

I remember the day he got benched..the following day he was out at golf store on gulf to bay for a autograph session and was nothing but class in how he handled himself.

I've always admired that about him and how he carried himself. Sadly he wasn't the greatest QB in Tampa ...but at the time he was there how many greats did they have on offense?

[Feesh]

Trent will always be my favorite Buc! He had to put up with crap talent around him and a new offensive system (if you want to call it that) every year. I always wanted him to come back and play for the Bucs. I really wish that would have worked out. I think he would have done just as well as Brad did. Most of all, Trent was a great citizen and did A LOT for the community. I just hope the Times runs as many articles as they did when Sapp retired.

[Steve L]

The two "can't miss" QB prospects of the 1994 draft class were Trent Dilfer and Heath Shuler. I remember watching that draft and feeling relief wash over me because I thought that Dilfer was the better pro prospect (most pundits were split 50/50 at that time). I met Dilfer shortly after the draft at a Buc event and he was rather pompous and standoffish. I wasn't impressed at the time but didn't care as long as he was an effective QB. He was obviously up and down in his Tampa career but he improved and I was glad for him when he led the Raven's to the SB. I met him again just a few years ago (with the Seahawks) and he was very gracious and gregarious. He had matured into a good ambassador for the game. Away from the game he's always been a solid citizen. Good luck, Trent.

[DR]

Who knows what Dilfer's career would have been if the Bucs surrounded Dilfer with some targets to throw to. Reidel Anthony, Jaquez Green, Alvin Harper, Horace Copeland, Courtney Hawkins, and Bert Emanuel, if all these guys talents were lumped together, it still would be #3 WR talent. Dave Moore was a solid TE but they needed a playmaker somewhere on the field and he wasn't it. It was ironic how he ended up winning in Tampa after all.

[RCBIGTUNA]

God bless Trent and his family. He was and is a stand up guy. He out lasted Culverhouse and got a RING anyways. He took so many hard hits with the Bucs that its amazing he lasted this long. Trent your the man and I hope to see you at the Superbowl this year sporting that Big RING and your Bigger Heart !!

[matt]

A lot of people forget he was a winning QB here and brought us in the playoffs. The year the Bucs went to the conference title game vs. the Rams he was injured late in the season and then it was King's turn to shine. But he laid the first effort.

[me]

I wonder how many more titles the Ravens would have won if they resigned Trent after they won the Super Bowl.

[Joe Ball Coach]

Such memory loss on this post! Seems to me that this man was ran out of town! How fitting that the picture is of him on his can! It's where he spent alot of time. Sad to see him retire, because with a few more seasons (if he could start) I think he may have broken Favres record...for interceptions! Shame on you people for trying to fool somone into believing he was anything more than D+. Ray Lewis could have Q.B.'d the Ravens the year they won. All they asked Dilfer to do was get them to the 50 yard line so they could punt and let the defense take over!

[you know it]

Trent was and is a great man..to JBC, the only negative comment so far. Shame on you. Good luck Trent..hope to see you as a commentator soon!

[db]

No memory loss "Joe Ball Coach";
We're just nice people, unlike you. I appreciate all the bucs over the years for providing me entertainment and a sense of community. Helps me forget the stress of everyday life. God bless Trent and his family.

[Greg]

Tampa always blamed there problems on their QBs. Never mind our O-lines were always like sives and our recievers were second grade. Dilfer was a good QB and all his critics could say nothing when he got his ring. He was a lot like Brad Johnson, not flashy, not going to carry a team, but would get the job done if he had the players to work with. 14 years in the NFL is proof enough he was a good QB.

[derek]

I agree greg

[Tony M.]

I don't think any of us are fooling ourselves here. Trent Dilfer was not the single greatest QB of all time. But he did have a pretty darn good career. He won the Superbowl, and there are some hall of famers that can't say that.

I say boo to all of you talking poorly of a good man. I say boo even louder to that no talent hack Bubba the Love Sponge for harassing this man and his family when he was in Tampa. You're all a disgrace. Most of all that fat, pathetic radio DJ.

Maybe all of you naysayers should go out and take a few licks from some of the NFL players that Paul Gruber wasn't blocking (and I mean now, not even when they were in their prime) at full NFL speed and see if Trent Dilfer doesn't deserve some appreciation for suiting up for this franchise.

Congratulations Trent. Thanks for all the good years and effort. Remember that all of these NFL wannabes weren't even able to get a job carrying your towel in the league. But I'm sure you don't even let it bother you, you're a class act.

[Terry]

I remember seeing Dilfer in his rookie year eating lunch with his wife at Hops on Dale Mabry.....big smile, didn't mind a few interuptions in his booth for an autograph - just a classy guy.

Glad he got his Super Bowl ring....Trent, you're always welcomed here in Tampa. Best of luck as you move onto the rest of your life!

[Jason]

What an idiot that one negative person was on this blog!! Oh, Ray Lewis could've qb'ed them to SB win?? Hey moron, I guess you didn't watch that SB?? Dilfer THREW them into the TD zone 3 times and had a 4th called back on a suspicious call and I believe almost 300 yards.. I would say that is better than "just the 50 yard line." I hate when idiots like that one subhuman open their dumb trap!! You know your facts as good as Ryan leaf's career.

[Bucs Fan]

Alex - I said nothing about knocking the history or tradition of the Bucs. Dilfer will be missed but it's not like he is HOF material. He won a SB because of the dominant defense in Baltimore, plain and simple. His job was to hand the ball off and to complete short passes. He played well for us during his Buc days but not enough for me to make him a poster child of our franchise.

[Bucs Fan]

Dilfer - career stats:
113 TDs, 129 INTs, 263 sacks, QB rating= 70.2
2000 (with Balt.) 1502 passing yards, 12 TDs, 11 INTs, rating= 76.6

How's that for history? As for tradition, he fit the mold as a
"traditional" Bucs QB. We've never had an absolute stud at QB. Brad Johnson excelled during our SB run but again, he wasn't a stud. Hopefully we'll develop a stud at QB in Josh Johnson...I BELIEVE!!!

[Malignant Tumor]

>>>I wonder how many more titles the Ravens would have won if they resigned Trent after they won the Super Bowl.<<<

the same amount of super bowls that the vikings, saints and falcons have won combined

seriously, this is probably the dumbest question I've ever seen on these blogs ... and that's saying quite a bit

[derek]

brad johnson was a stud at qb... just because he didnt have michael vick video game type talent doesnt matter

[Duane]

Malignant, many Raven players thought the samw way as you. DUImig helped run Dilfer out of town. In his inebriated state, he must have thought was was throwing to Rice, Largent and T.O. Of those receivers you mentioned Emanuel was probably the best. Isn't that sad. O-Line wasn't sterling either. Although never a "great" QB, I think we would have hit the SB with Dilfer instead of the other guy against the Rams. Maybe the next year, too. Trent learned how to manage the game and as you said, alwasy handled himself with class and dignity.

God Bless Trent Dilfer. He is a great guy and a great Q.B.

[Nordberg]

Oh how funny! Now everyone's a Dilfer fan. You're all the same idiots who drove him from Tampa Bay, so don't go putting on the veil of acceptance now, you bunch of turncoats!

[mary shaw]

the taampa bay rays did poorly, bucs played poorly- at least we have SAPP DADDY on dancing with the stars to be proud of