General managers are often judged by wins and losses. When a team falls short of a championship, fans begin looking for someone to blame. After a down year in 2025, even some analysts wonder if key organizational replacements will be made. Some may even question Jason Licht's future if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't make a playoff run this season. However, his tenure at the helm suggests he has earned far more job security than many realize.
Licht has spent more than a decade building the Buccaneers into one of the NFC's most consistent organizations. During that time, he has assembled a Super Bowl-winning roster, drafted Pro Bowl-caliber players and helped keep Tampa Bay competitive even after Tom Brady's retirement.
One of the strongest arguments in Licht's favor is the roster he built that won Super Bowl LV. He helped engineer that group, including bringing Tom Brady to Tampa Bay while surrounding him with a talented supporting cast. Winning a Super Bowl by itself gives Licht a better resume than most other general managers have built.
He has also established himself as having a keen eye for talent. Over the years, the Buccaneers have drafted impact players such as Tristan Wirfs, Antoine Winfield Jr., Luke Goedeke and Bucky Irving. This has allowed Tampa Bay to remain competitive despite losing several veteran stars.
Another reason Licht deserves credit is the way the Buccaneers have responded since Brady retired. Many pundits expected the franchise to begin a lengthy rebuilding process. Instead, Tampa Bay remained a playoff contender while Baker Mayfield revived his career and emerged as the team's franchise quarterback. Licht deserves great credit for helping with this successful transition.
His extension speaks louder than critics
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Finally, the organization has already shown its confidence in Licht by rewarding him with a contract extension. NFL teams don't extend general managers unless ownership believes they are leading the franchise in the right direction.
Every general manager has draft picks and free-agent signings that don't work out. However, Super Bowl victories, successful drafts and sustained competitiveness are ultimately the standards by which this position is evaluated. Jason Licht has delivered in each of those areas, making it difficult to argue that he belongs anywhere near the hot seat, even if the Bucs have a down year.
