Sean Murphy-Bunting had Bucs at top of his list

Sean Murphy-Bunting’s return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers brought him back to the organization where his NFL career began, and apparently there wasn’t much convincing needed to make the reunion happen. Speaking with reporters after returning to Tampa Bay, Murphy-Bunting said the process came together

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Sean Murphy-Bunting’s return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

brought him back to the organization where his NFL career began, and apparently there wasn’t much convincing needed to make the reunion happen. Speaking with reporters after returning to Tampa Bay, Murphy-Bunting said the process came together quickly and revealed that the Buccaneers were his preferred destination after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals.

“It was pretty seamless,” Murphy-Bunting said. “I told my agent they were first on my list.” For Murphy-Bunting, Tampa Bay offers something few other potential destinations could. The Bucs selected him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he spent his first four seasons with the organization. More importantly, he already

knows Todd Bowles’ defense and was part of the secondary that helped Tampa Bay win Super Bowl LV. Murphy-Bunting played an especially important role during that championship run. He intercepted a pass in each of the Bucs’ first three playoff games, including the NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers. During his original stint in Tampa Bay, he appeared in 53 regular-season games with 36 starts, recording six interceptions and 21 passes defensed.

He left Tampa Bay following the 2022 season, spending one year with Tennessee before signing a three-year, $25.5 million contract with Arizona. Murphy-Bunting started 15 games for the Cardinals in 2024 and recorded three interceptions, but a torn ACL cost him the entire 2025 season. Arizona released him during final roster cuts this year. Now 29, Murphy-Bunting returns under much different circumstances. He initially joins Tampa Bay's practice squad rather than immediately getting a spot on the 53man roster, although he has an opportunity to be elevated early in the season. That could happen quickly considering the youth in Tampa Bay’s cornerback room. Zyon McCollum is the established veteran of the group, but Jacob Parrish, Benjamin Morrison, Ayden Garnes, and Keionte Scott give the Bucs several young options. Murphy-Bunting brings 65 career NFL starts and extensive experience playing in Bowles’ system.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Sean Murphy-Bunting had Bucs at top of his list