How Many More Years Will Tristan Wirfs Play?
March 30th, 2024
Tristan Wirfs
Buccaneers All-World left tackle/right tackle Tristan Wirfs will earn $21 million this season (if the Bucs don’t make him richer) and his admitted playing weight is about 360 pounds.
Wirfs is in his prime as a fifth-year player and Joe has no doubt Wirfs wants to play at least 10 seasons in Tampa.
But will that be it?
Joe finally caught up with Wirfs’ last visit to the Washed Up Walkons podcast. He acknowledged there how playing double-digit seasons at his size is difficult on joints and, interestingly, Wirfs noted how Todd Bowles talked to the Bucs about ways players leave the game.
Wirfs shared that Bowles explained that “very few people get to walk away under their own accord.” The lesson resonated with Wirfs, he said.
Asked how long he wants his career to be, Wirfs said on the show that he wasn’t sure. He acknowledged thinking about how offensive linemen have shorter shelf lives compared to other positions.
Wirfs said when he’s in peak sweating of a Tampa summer, his weight will drop to 352 pounds.
“It’s a lot [of weight] to be walking around on your joints on your knees and ankles and everything,” Wirfs said, referring to discussions he’s had with Bucs training staff.
“You gotta make a tough decision one way or the other,” Wirfs said. “When you get up there [in NFL playing years], it’s like, ‘Do I keep playing? Do I want it to end not on my terms, or am I in the place to walk away now and be OK?”
Joe wouldn’t knock any player that chooses to hang it up healthy and wealthy.
The lesson here, Joe believes, is to appreciate every moment the iconic Bucs like Wirfs are on the roster.
March 30th, 2024 at 8:28 pm
Another 6 years for $140 million Tristan, let’s do it!
March 30th, 2024 at 8:28 pm
If Wirfs wanted to be lighter for his health, I bet he would make a great TE.
March 30th, 2024 at 8:32 pm
That’s why if I’m him, I’m not playing without a new deal.
March 30th, 2024 at 8:49 pm
Marpet
March 30th, 2024 at 9:12 pm
Oh man, we’re set at that position for the next decade!
Oh………wait
March 30th, 2024 at 9:47 pm
The Bucs are blessed to have Wirfs and on days like when we wonder about our Edge 2 .. we can always remember we have the best LT in football and are only a draft full of the right players to go all the way
March 30th, 2024 at 9:48 pm
away. Get our other Oline anchor in a drafted plug in C, count on Opeta to run block as he does well and our Oline won’t be a liability this year
March 30th, 2024 at 10:27 pm
He’s got to do what’s best for himself and his family. He’s a great player but there are more important things in life than football, including one’s health.
March 30th, 2024 at 11:13 pm
Why put these ideas in his head Joe? Hasn’t one Pro Bowler lineman’s retirement been enough? You should ask him questions like, “Can you play for the most years in Bucs history?” Or will you start for another 10 years? That is how you talk to him. We don’t need anymore Ali Marpets worrying about their joints. Give me a break
March 30th, 2024 at 11:28 pm
Offensive lineman play longer then most, don’t agree that an offensive lineman’s shelf life is low.
March 30th, 2024 at 11:42 pm
The more guys make the shorter the careers will get. Add in NIL deals in college, the NFL is going to see a lot of 25-28 year old multimillionaires quit. Even QBs… why would Mahomes play 20 years like Brady when he’ll be at almost a billion dollars in salary plus promo deals by the time he’s what, 30 or so?
March 31st, 2024 at 12:09 am
Im just happy we have him now. He was just crushing DEs by the end of the Season!
Typical Tristan Wirfs!
LT is considered by most to be the third most important position on a team, behind only QB and Pass rusher in importance.
Having one the best in the league is wonderful luxury!
March 31st, 2024 at 1:03 am
money is just money…nature and competitive spirit when you know you have it, yeah thats a whole nother thing….talk to Brady about that lol.
March 31st, 2024 at 3:19 am
Joe … ‘Wirfs said when he’s in peak sweating of a Tampa summer, his weight will DROP to 352 pounds.’
Guess I’m naive. Bucs site lists him at 6’5″ & 320 lbs. Pro-Football-Reference lists him at 6’5″ & 320 lbs. And at his Combine he weighed in at 6’5″ & 320 lbs.
But now it takes the Florida heat for him to sweat DOWN to 352 lbs? Me thinks Tristan must be hanging around Vita too much.
March 31st, 2024 at 4:01 am
Hopefully wirfs plays with the bics until he retires a buc for life. Fat and happy, and rich.
If not, then i hope he plays here healthy for at least this year to be sure.
March 31st, 2024 at 7:31 am
Tristan will play as long as Jackie Slater.
March 31st, 2024 at 9:22 am
I remember watching Paul Gruber throughout the 90’s and fearing the day he had enough. It was sad to see him break his leg (Chicago I believe) and not finally play in a playoff game.
March 31st, 2024 at 9:57 am
Wirfs, Vea and others need to slim down for their own health, longevity and durability. Where is the Bucs training staff and why aren’t they keeping these young men in good athletic shape.
No one wAnts Tristan or Vita to have a heart attack
.
March 31st, 2024 at 1:42 pm
Move him back to Right Tackle, where he’s the best in the game
March 31st, 2024 at 2:22 pm
Can’t fault Magic Marpet for what appears to be perfect timing. He’s returned to “average man’s size” a la Brad Culpepper. It’s probably not fun not easy being a forever Fatty Arbuckle.
March 31st, 2024 at 3:48 pm
DR,
Joe must have meant 325.
Errors are to be expected by the highly emotional Joe after the Reddick debacle.
March 31st, 2024 at 9:53 pm
Many unless he drinks himself to death.