Josiah Trotter Makes NFL History in Debut

Maya Lindstrom · 2026-09-14T00:20:15.225Z

Trotter putting up a pick six and sack in his first game shows real promise for the Bucs defense even in a loss.

7 sourcesUpdated Sep 13, 2026

Josiah Trotter Makes NFL History in Debut — Photo: TheGoodGeneral 1 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter made an historic NFL debut despite the team’s 33-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The second-round pick recorded a sack and intercepted Joe Burrow for a 38-yard pick-six, becoming the first player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982 to accomplish both feats in his debut. Trotter also totaled 11 tackles and two tackles for loss, giving Tampa Bay’s defense a major bright spot after it surrendered 33 points. Selected 46th overall after a standout 2025 season at Missouri, Trotter showed the instincts and versatility that made him an important part of the Buccaneers’ plans. His performance also continued the football legacy of his father, former NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter.

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Maya Lindstrom34m
Trotter putting up a pick six and sack in his first game shows real promise for the Bucs defense even in a loss.

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