There’s just something about the Bucs’ Creamsicle uniforms that makes people smile. Maybe it’s the bold colors or the retro logo, but there's no denying the fact that they’ve become one of the most beloved throwback looks in the league. Tampa Bay is leaning all the way in for their 50th season.

After recently reviving the all-orange version, the Bucs are bringing out something even rarer: the white-on-white road version from their original 1976 season. It’s the full setup — white jerseys with orange numbers, striped sleeves, white pants, white helmet, and of course, Bucco Bruce tipping his cap like it's still the '70s.

They’ll wear it in the home opener against the Jets, and the buzz has already been building. It’s a clean, nostalgic look that fans across the league have been asking for. No overhype needed — this is just a cool piece of football history making a well-earned comeback.

What’s Old, What’s New, and What’s Very Nike

At first glance, the 2025 edition of the Bucs’ Creamsicle throwback looks like it was pulled straight out of a dusty '70s photo album — but if you look closer, Nike made sure to put just enough modern upgrades to make it game-day ready in today’s NFL.

The biggest updates start with the Creamsicle 50th-Season Patch, stitched right over the heart. Then there's the "Hey! Hey! Tampa Bay!" phrase inside the collar, which calls back to the Bucs’ original fight song from 1979. It’s the kind of small detail that doesn’t show up on camera, but fans will appreciate it the second they see it up close.

It’s the best of both eras: the design that Lee Roy Selmon, Steve Spurrier, and Richard “Batman” Wood once wore, brought up to today’s standards. A full-circle moment that feels like a real tribute rather than a gimmick.

A Uniform That Has Literally Never Won a Game

There’s a reason older fans sometimes shake their heads when they see the old Creamsicle uniforms. Back in 1976, the Bucs entered the league as a true expansion team and had to face established NFL powerhouses right out of the gate. With a roster made up mostly of castoffs and untested rookies, Tampa Bay finished that first season 0-14, becoming the first team in the Super Bowl era to go winless.

The uniform they wore during that season? The very same white-and-orange combination that’s making a comeback in 2025. In fact, that original version of the uniform was never worn in a win. Not once. The team switched to red numbers the following season for better visibility, and eventually moved away from the Creamsicle identity entirely after 14 straight losing years.

Why Indulge the Past Now?

The Bucs have been through it all — fifty seasons of highs, lows, and everything in between. Two Lombardi Trophies, ten division titles, and a laundry list of players who’ve left their mark on the franchise. This 50th anniversary season is about tying together all the moments that shaped the team, from the winless Creamsicle beginnings to the championship parades in pewter and red.

Internally, the decision to bring back the original 1976 uniform wasn’t a slam dunk. Some folks in the building wanted something more modern — maybe a mash-up with current colors, or even a flashy chrome helmet to freshen things up. But ownership pushed back, wanting to honor the original design in its purest form. The result, as Chief Marketing Officer James Ruth put it, is "a fun deep cut for those OG fans that really appreciate the details of what we are doing."

And let’s be honest — this move makes sense on the business side, too. Vintage jerseys have become a huge part of football culture, and ESPN once listed the Bucs’ Creamsicle look as one of the most iconic throwbacks in all of sports. Last season, when they brought out the orange jerseys, merch flew off the shelves. This year, it’s already off to a hot start. When you mix a good story with a sharp look, people show up.

Circle These Three Creamsicle Games

Tampa Bay isn’t just bringing back the old look for one afternoon — they’re making it a recurring event. The Bucs will wear their full throwback setup for three games spread out throughout this season. Here’s when to watch:

• Week 3: Sept 21 vs. Jets
  This one’s the big opener — the first time the full 1976 white-on-white uniform has been worn in a game since, well, 1976. It’s the launch of the Bucs’ 50th season celebration.

• Week 5: Oct 5 at Seahawks
  This matchup is a cool one for NFL history nerds. Both the Bucs and Seahawks entered the league as expansion teams in 1976, and both are breaking out their original throwbacks for this game. Seattle’s going with their classic royal blue setup, so it’s going to be a full-on retro showdown.

• Week 15: Dec 11 vs. Falcons (Thursday Night Football)
  A primetime NFC South clash, but with a twist: throwbacks under the lights. The Bucs will wear the orange version here, not the white, and the team’s going all in on the retro vibes — complete with Creamsicle-themed fan giveaways and throwback visuals in the stadium.

Embrace the Vitamin C

Will the Bucs look like walking Creamsicles? Absolutely. Could they channel that vintage swagger into a statement win over the Jets? That’s the plan. But even if Saturday morning cartoon colors aren’t your thing, you can’t deny the charm of a franchise confident enough to celebrate its humble beginnings.

Fifty seasons in, the Buccaneers have lived every extreme — from laughingstock to Super Bowl champ — and these throwbacks wrap the whole journey into a single uniform. History’s about to get a fresh coat of paint — and maybe, finally, a W in those white‑and‑orange threads.