“Wait A Minute. You’re Tom Brady.”
February 4th, 2021
Right tackle Tristan Wirfs
Pretty cool media session today with Bucs rookie stud right tackle Tristan Wirfs.
Wirfs was talking about all sorts of things, like how he would drive the 30 minutes from the University of Iowa to his hometown of Mount Vernon, Iowa — provided his mom was cooking something he liked. Then he would drive right back to school.
Asked about not winning the NFL Rookie of the Year Award (Los Angeles quarterback Justin Herbert did), Wirfs said he’d take a ring over a trophy any day.
Wirfs later admitted that he was star-struck when he first came to Tampa Bay. Who was the star? No, not Hulk Hogan. But park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring, down-forgetting, handshake-stiffing, jet-ski-losing, biscuit-baking Bucs quarterback Tom Brady.
On draft night Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians called him and asked if he was ready to block for Brady. Wirfs said that really hit him and he didn’t know what to say he was so shocked.
In the snap of a finger Wirfs went from a Busch Light-drinking smalltown Iowa college kid to blocking for a an international superstar some refer to as a farm animal — in Florida. In the NFL.
Brady tried to message Wirfs on draft night but Wirfs, amid the commotion, didn’t see it until later. When he did notice Brady’s message, he freaked out.
“He messaged me on Instagram and I didn’t open it for like nine hours on draft night,” Wirfs said. “It was draft night and I had a ton of messages. I didn’t see it until the next day.
“Oh my gosh! I was scared.”
His nerves/excitement to block for Brady continued to when the team took physicals for training camp in the summer.
“The first time I met him was in the hallway at the facility, getting our physicals,” Wirfs said. “I almost bumped into him. And I did a double-take and [said], “Wait a minute. You’re Tom Brady!”
Almost immediately Wirfs said he called his mom to tell her how he just met the new Bucs quarterback and future Hall of Famer.
Earlier today, Arians was asked about Wirfs and Arians just gushed over the rookie.
“People said, ‘Hey, you just moved up one spot,'” Arians said of drafting Wirfs 13th overall. “Well, you didn’t know who else was going to trade up there for him.
“We had him ranked the highest guy. He has been nothing but a dream come true for us. He’s an extremely mature young man. Great athlete. Took the bull by the horns and just has done a great job blocking just about everyone [defenses] put in front of him.”
When Wirfs was asked what he needs to improve on, he said a lot. He also added he wasn’t sure the Super Bowl would be the proper time to start experimenting on new techniques.
What ought to scare the hell out of NFL defensive ends is to hear Wirfs say he has a lot to improve on. This is coming from a rookie who has taken every snap at right tackle and has given up one sack in 19 games.
February 4th, 2021 at 2:44 pm
If anyone has worried about Wirfs hitting the rookie wall……well, it’s the opponents that Wirfs is blocking who are hitting the rookie wall…..and that would be Wirfs!!!
February 4th, 2021 at 2:55 pm
Stole him in the draft. I don’t know how you watch the combine and the game tape not to mention the vids of him dunking and jumping out of the pool and not see freak athlete written all over him. Stars aligned to get him.
February 4th, 2021 at 3:02 pm
“The rookie wall”
What a great nickname for him!
For one more game!
February 4th, 2021 at 3:04 pm
At least he didn’t get drunk on Milwaukees Best! A stand up young man.
February 4th, 2021 at 3:07 pm
Cue the video of him jumping out the pool… Oh dang, I just jumped out too. Out my chair.
This guy maybe one of the reasons we get to see Brady play 5 more years and take down George Blanda!!!
February 4th, 2021 at 3:07 pm
Maid Rites washed down with Busch Light with corn on the cob on the side… that just screams “Iowa.”
February 4th, 2021 at 3:08 pm
LOL it takes 30 minutes to dive from Carrollwood to Bay to Bay in s Tampa
February 4th, 2021 at 3:17 pm
I live in Cali, I giggled @ 30 min drive.
February 4th, 2021 at 3:26 pm
When “the sickness” precluded him from taking his mom to Vegas for an awards show she was anticipating attending, he bought/rented a red carpet for the front sidewalk of their little house for the two of them to walk on together as they would have in Vegas. How cool is that?
February 4th, 2021 at 3:39 pm
This Kid is my Rookie of the year!!
Nothing this year has surprised me more, than watching stonewall and pancake great DEs.
Gonna be an all pro for 15 years!
February 4th, 2021 at 3:41 pm
Casual, that story deserves 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
February 4th, 2021 at 4:20 pm
I’d love for Wirfs to come back next year even stronger, faster, and with better technique. He’ll be the best in the league.
February 4th, 2021 at 4:21 pm
Delawest. Thanks. Wirfs is a terrific human being – in addition to being a great football player. We are lucky to have him in our fair city.
February 4th, 2021 at 5:19 pm
When I saw the video of him leaping out of the pool, I thought, this is the most athletic Tackle I’ve seen. He has been one of the most consistent players on this team all year.
What a steal!
February 4th, 2021 at 5:24 pm
You beat me to it “gp”. The Rookie Wall would have been a great nickname for him this year. What about next year though?
February 4th, 2021 at 5:51 pm
TEAM MVP HONOR FO SHO remember the penalty plagued turnstile we had on that side for the last 100 years or so, WIRFS IS THE MANBEAST X MEN, all pro just a matter of time!
February 4th, 2021 at 7:23 pm
Sorry, but I just can’t see Wirfs drinking Busch Lite.
Maybe Natty Ice ?
February 4th, 2021 at 8:10 pm
@Aceofaerospace
I dunno
Mount Vea hasn’t really caught on but would be fitting.
Even muhammet couldn’t move that mountain!
February 4th, 2021 at 9:24 pm
Cool story. Great, quiet unassuming young man. Best kind.
Saw that video of him last week pulling on the last play that sealed the victory, dude is a beast.
Them Iowa lineman are good…!
February 5th, 2021 at 8:03 am
Rookie Wall making veterans look like rookies. Saw the last play against GB and BL knew what he was doing give the ball to Godwin and just follow the Rookie Wall, the rest is history.