Where Bucs’ Brad Johnson stands among Super Bowl quarterbacks

We’ve long known that the Bucs rode their defense to Super Bowl XXXVII.

The Buccaneers' victory over the Raiders in 2003 in San Diego crowned Hall-of-Fame careers for linebacker Derrick Brooks and defensive tackle Warren Sapp and burnished the credentials of safety John Lynch and cornerback Ronde Barber, whose pick-six in the NFC title game against the Eagles sent the Bucs to the Super Bowl.

But the Buccaneers had an offense, too, one led by quarterback Brad Johnson.

Now, thanks to NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal, we know where Johnson stands among the 61 quarterbacks who have played in the Super Bowl.

In short, "in the middle of the pack,” Rosenthal writes.

Johnson, who passed for nearly 30,000 yards and 166 touchdowns during a 15-season career with four teams, ranks 44th on Rosenthal’s All-Time Super Bowl QB rankings, though Rosenthal acknowledges, “Johnson and (Jeff) Hostetler both had better careers than I remembered with teams that they didn’t win Super Bowls with." (In Johnson’s case, Washington.)

In creating his rankings, Rosenthal considered each quarterback’s career achievements, “with regular-season excellence, All-Pro/Pro Bowl appearances and seasons as top-five and top-10 players at the position carrying more weight than just Super Bowl success.”

Ex-Buc Doug Williams, who starred in Washington’s Super Bowl XXII win over the Broncos, ranks 52nd, eight spots behind Johnson.

Trent Dilfer, who spent most of his career with the Bucs before going on to win a Super Bowl with the Ravens, is 57th.

As you might expect, Tom Brady — who has won five Super Bowls in eight appearances and will make his ninth in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3 — tops the list. Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning and Dan Marino round out the top five.

Steve Young, who spent two nondescript seasons in Tampa Bay at the start of his career before becoming a three-time Super Bowl champion with the 49ers, is seventh.

The last player on the list also has a state connection. Former Bear and Florida Gator Rex Grossman ranks 61st.