Richard Williamson Passes
September 23rd, 2015
Former Bucs coach passed away today.
Former Bucs coach Richard Williamson, who presided over some of the darkest days of the Bucs’ franchise, passed away today, the team announced.
Williamson was the fourth head coach in team history and succumbed after a brief illness, per the Buccaneers.
“We are very saddened by the loss of Richard Williamson,” the Buccaneers said in a statement. “Richard dedicated the majority of his life to the sport of football, spending over forty years as a coach at both the collegiate and professional levels. During his career, including his five seasons as a member of our organization, Richard distinguished himself as a very good coach and even better person. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family.”
Williamson coached college and professional football for 47 years, 27 of those years in the NFL. Williamson, a former player for Bear Bryant at Alabama, lasted only 19 games with the Bucs, as he took over the team with three games left in the 1990 season.
His record as Bucs coach was 4-15.
September 23rd, 2015 at 3:33 pm
RIP Williamson
September 23rd, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Truly dark days indeed he was around when I signed onto this team. R.I.P. Richard Williamson the best WR coach/HC the Bucs have ever had.
September 23rd, 2015 at 3:37 pm
Sad to hear…
As a kid I was at his first game as interim head coach against the Vikings and the Bucs were able to win and the place had a good energy. Only 45k there are so, but was a good energy.
September 23rd, 2015 at 3:46 pm
My condolences to the family and friends of Coach Williamson.
September 23rd, 2015 at 3:46 pm
Once upon a time I had the chance to hang out at OBP and watch the Eagles practice. They were using the facility for playoff prep. Lots of media around, including Bill Walsh working for NBC. These were Buddy Ryan’s Eagles. It was a neat opportunity. Long story-short, I stayed well past practice and realized I had no way to get home. Yes, this was before cell phones, Uber and the like kiddos. I’m hanging out in the OBP lobby and Richard Williamson, then HC (though he may’ve just been dismissed), walks up starts up a quick chat and offers me a ride home. Different world back then, huh? His record here was abysmal, but the deck was stacked against him post Perkins. Even so, Coach W, thanks for the ride!!!
September 23rd, 2015 at 3:47 pm
RIP Mr. Williamson
September 23rd, 2015 at 3:50 pm
Cool!
Thanks for sharing Mr. Pillow
September 23rd, 2015 at 4:10 pm
RIP Coach Williamson.
Guy was a heck of a WR coach. We had some real successes at WR under his guidance. Guys like Mark Carrier and Bruce Hill. He should not have been hired as HC, but Culverhouse wanted the cheapest option and elevated Williamson instead.
September 23rd, 2015 at 4:51 pm
Condolences to the Williamson family. A good man and a good WR coach for us. But yea – his time here was among the darkest of times for the Bucs.
September 23rd, 2015 at 4:53 pm
RIP, Coach😔
September 23rd, 2015 at 5:18 pm
I believe we had more young talent than any team in the NFL in 1991, Ian Beckles was a starting guard as a rookie in 1990 and he held the job for some years. We had Vinny Testaverde and Chris Chandler at QB. Broderick Thomas had the best season ever for a Buc linebacker in 1991. Richard Williamson was a great WR coach, but he wasn’t head coach material. I think the 1991 draft was the worst in our history, probably one of the worst in NFL history.
September 23rd, 2015 at 7:41 pm
RIP to a good man
September 23rd, 2015 at 8:00 pm
I remember back in ’90 when Hugh C canned Perkins after a 5-8 start and I went to the Sombrero (a little over half filled with a lot of purple) to see the Bucs actually win a game over a favored Vikes team and move to 6-8 and then remember wwatching BSPN and actually heard Berman say that the Bucs were still actually relevent as they still had a sliver of hope for a wildcsrd…. The Bucs of course would lose their final 2 to go 6-8 and then went 3-13 the next season and Hugh fired Mr Williamson. That 3-13 should have got them the #2 overall draft pick in 1992 but the Bucs traded away that pick for ****ing Chris Chandler…. I felt for Williamson as he really had no chance of succeeding as long as Hugh the Screw Culverhouse was around…. Sad to hear that the coach has passed on RIP. I do remember that day in Tampa when Coach Williamson won his debut; a rare happy day in the Creamsicle years for this Buc fan!
September 23rd, 2015 at 8:02 pm
Make that 6-8 a 6-10 and though a poor mark it was still the best the Bucs had since McKay’s last season a 6-10 run in ’84. Man those creamsicle years were brutal under Mr C. Again, RIP Coach Williamson. Guy had to be a fountain of knowledge after almost 50 years as a pro and collegiate coach…..
September 23rd, 2015 at 8:45 pm
@Rod…..I was at that game too. Took my first date ever to the big sombrero and watched a dominating Bucs performance. I remember thinking that maybe Williamson was the real deal. Unfortunately, things worked out for his Bucs career as well as that first date did for me. Rest in peace Coach.
September 23rd, 2015 at 10:02 pm
RIP Coach Williamson
September 24th, 2015 at 9:07 am
Wow I remember being a very young Bucs fan during that era…time flies by! RIP coach.