Robert Hainsey’s Leadership Role Last Season
February 24th, 2025
Team-first guy likely on way out.
One thing former Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter used to talk about was valuable players called “glue guys.” He believed a team could not become a winner without those “glue guys.”
Specifically, Koetter was referencing Will Gholston. Koetter went on to explain glue guys may not be stars but you can bank on their play. They’re guys that show up, are team-first players and will always answer the bell.
On the Bucs’ roster in 2024, Joe considered K.J. Britt and Robert Hainsey to be glue guys. True, Britt probably isn’t a starting linebacker in the NFL. But Joe loves the guy’s heart and attitude. If you could take Britt’s heart and ‘tude and put it in a better, more athletic body, you’d probably have another Lavonte David.
Now Joe can hear folks moaning out loud because Joe called Hainsey a “glue guy.” Hainsey became a lightning rod for many fans, on whom they pinned the blame for Rachaad White’s awful running somehow.
Clearly, the Bucs drafted Graham Barton to replace Hainsey. Joe will never forget there were two players in the front lobby of One Buc Palace to greet Barton when he first arrived at One Buc Palace: Tristan Wirfs and the guy Barton was drafted to replace, Hainsey.
Now that’s a team man.
Hainsey knew Barton was taking his job. But there he was repping the Bucs, welcoming Barton.
Joe asked Hainsey about that gesture toward the end of the season.
“I mean, it’s very normal, ” Hainsey said. “Like, my goal has always been in college, the No. 1 goal is to help the team. That’s kind of who I am and who I’ve always tried to be.
“I have always been a starter, and that was kind of the role, and I had to make a decision, ‘Am I going to change who I am? Because things didn’t go necessarily the way I wanted top?’
“I was like, ‘No. That’s not who I am. That’s not how I was raised, that’s not what I do.'”
Being a team guy wasn’t just limited to One Buc Palace. Former Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen said he would sometimes, when putting together a gameplan, call Hainsey at home and get his thoughts on a particular install.
“I call Hainsey when we’re trying to create our protection plan,” Coen said last month. “I’ve called him on multiple occasions while he’s at home and asked him how he would see it.”
Hainsey said it wasn’t in him to feel sorry for himself because the Bucs drafted Barton. He wasn’t going to mope and just collect a paycheck.
“It’s a tough situation, but like, you can either kind of sink in your shell and sulk about things, or you can make the most out of it, because bad sh!t is gonna happen to everyone one way or another,” Hainsey said. “And as far as things that could happen, like in the grand scheme of life, [losing a starting job] is nothing. I just need to make the most of it.”
Hainsey is a free agent in about two weeks. Would he like to start? Of course.
Hainsey wouldn’t tell Joe if he looking forward to leaving or wanted to stick around and be a valuable glue guy in a reserve role. Hainsey said he’d worry about that after the season. Of course, Wirfs, who is tight with Hainsey, told “The Pivot” podcast during Super Bowl week that Hainsey is “leaving.”
That’s too bad. The Bucs will be losing a quality team-first guy.
A glue guy.
February 24th, 2025 at 6:14 am
Don’t know what their center situation is in J Ville, but signing Hainsey could really help installing Coen’s offense. He would be invaluable to Lawerence. I have a feeling the snake will bite us again. Keep an eye on Godwin too.
February 24th, 2025 at 6:34 am
Hainsey is smart and sounds like a good guy. He played well against the saints last season, but he’s a below average starting center. The Bucs will likely let him go because you can’t have a backup center that isn’t also a guard. Team usually dress 7-8 lineman on game day and those guys have to be versatile. Hainsey will get a job but it’s probably going to be a 1 year deal for 4-5 mil. I’d guess he signs with Atlanta if they lose Dahlman.
February 24th, 2025 at 6:55 am
Both are class dudes and wish them well. Hainsey sounds like a top candidate to be a coach after his playing days are over.
February 24th, 2025 at 7:01 am
Kinda thought the same. If an OC is leaning on a backup for input, that tells Joe that Hainsey is pretty sharp.
February 24th, 2025 at 7:21 am
Hainsey is gone.
February 24th, 2025 at 7:43 am
True, Britt probably isn’t a starting linebacker in the NFL.
Also true, Hainsey probably isn’t a starting center in the NFL.
Britt and Hainsey are guys that you want as backups on your team, not starters.
Free Agent Centers in order based upon likely value:
Drew Dalman, Atlanta Falcons
Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis Colts
Austin Corbett, Carolina Panthers
Brady Christensen, Carolina Panthers
Coleman Shelton, Chicago Bears
Josh Myers, Green Bay Packers
Bradley Bozeman, Los Angeles Chargers
Connor McGovern, New Orleans Saints
Robert Hainsey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
That places him 10th. I doubt he gets a contract in March. But there certainly is some chance. Not sure it will be more than the 3 million he earned last season.
February 24th, 2025 at 7:45 am
Never understood why Hainsey couldn’t play LG. I know Bredeson is a website favorite from the Joe’s, but he’s not very good.
February 24th, 2025 at 7:51 am
Of course Hainsey is leaving – there are at least a half dozen or more teams that would see Robert as an upgrade at Center and be willing to pay $6M or more per year for his services. The Bucs are not one of those teams.
Bucs will get a 5th or 6th round comp pick for Hainsey leaving in free agency – if Licht signs less outside free agents than he loses…
February 24th, 2025 at 8:11 am
Good dude’s, wish them luck on their next teams.
February 24th, 2025 at 8:13 am
I would love to see Robert stay.
But, you can’t blame him for wanting to go some place else where he has a better shot at starting.
The guy is a class act the way he took Graham under his wing.
February 24th, 2025 at 8:23 am
I’m fine with a few guys moving on. We need to acquire some compensatory picks.
February 24th, 2025 at 8:40 am
The answer to why Hainsey doesn’t play guard is simple. He doesn’t have the anchor it leverage. Internally the Bucs have tried him at guard and he couldn’t do it. That’s why they drafted a center and added 3 guards. Comp picks are offset by FA signings. No, the Bucs aren’t getting a comp pick for Hainsey. No, Hainsey isn’t better than half the starting centers in the league. He’s not even in the top half of available centers in FA nevermind the league. He is watching he is. A serviceable player with good character. That’s it
February 24th, 2025 at 8:43 am
Joe.. Shouldn’t the Bucs get a pick for Dave Canales? I thought the league awards a 3rd round pick if you have a minority coordinator that receives a head coaching gig. San Francisco got 2 thirds a couple years ago
February 24th, 2025 at 8:49 am
Everyone wants to play. That is natural.
Often casuals make reference to career QB back-ups as guys making good bank without getting mauled, and what a great gig that is.
I am sure Gainsey us a fine guy. No question. But with physical limitations and athletic ability, would not a career back-up on the same team, occasionally running under kicks and filling in a couple of games a year not be the OL equivalent of a back-up QB.
Hainsey is a sort of tweener: not physically gifted (he is weight room maxxed,) not good enough to be an effective starter, but enough positives to not cut.
I am not sure the team is effected either way, stay or go…
February 24th, 2025 at 8:53 am
The 2021 draft class was a total across the board bust. glue guy is another one of those runner up trophies.
February 24th, 2025 at 9:42 am
WhatTheBuc Says:
February 24th, 2025 at 8:43 am
Joe.. Shouldn’t the Bucs get a pick for Dave Canales? I thought the league awards a 3rd round pick if you have a minority coordinator that receives a head coaching gig. San Francisco got 2 thirds a couple years ago
This has been discussed a lot when it happened. The NFL rule was compensatory pick if the guy had been with your team two or more seasons. Canales was only one so no compensatory pick.
February 24th, 2025 at 9:44 am
Hainsey is a true professional and would be a value to any organization even outside football. We need more people like Hainsey in this world.
Let’s go Bucs!!!!
February 24th, 2025 at 10:03 am
Glue guy or what ever your term is, Hainsey should do whats best for him and his family. Selfishly I would like the Bucs to make him an offer that keeps him in a Bucs Uniform.
He has enough talent to start on an NFL team in my mind so it probably will not happen for that reason. This dude wants to start.
Go Bucs!
February 24th, 2025 at 11:30 am
0 F’s = Silver Lining
Who cares about Hainsey? He’s literally a pushover … but he’s smart and nice. Is he running the team’s daycare center. You could replace him with a 6th round pick.
The great news is this is all we have to talk about … Godwin, LVD, and I guess Hainsey. Last year it was nonstop Evans, Baker, LVD … WE’RE GOING TO LOSE ONE OF THEM!!!! No anxiety this year. The roster is solid. That’s the real story.
Great job, Licht!
February 24th, 2025 at 11:37 am
Garro and Vanessa said what I was going to.
February 24th, 2025 at 12:09 pm
Assuming Hainsey leaves, Bredesen needs to be retained as LG and backup center. Not sure who the backup LG would be.
February 24th, 2025 at 2:13 pm
If we lose HAINSEY look for the bucs to draft another versatile interior lineman this year. Good teams have depth on the Oline and at DB. Personally I’d like to keep Hainsey on a reasonable contract maybe something like twice the vet minimum.
February 24th, 2025 at 3:36 pm
I thought Hainsey played tackle at Notre Dame. If he can’t play guard I wonder if he can be a back up tackle in the NFL. Remember what happened when they put Goedeke at his natural tackle position
February 24th, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Really hate to lose this guy. If it’s between Bredeson and Hainsey as to who Jason keeps, not sure that Hainsey wouldn’t be better than Bredeson at LG. But, Jason knows the livestock market so I trust him to make the best move.
February 25th, 2025 at 1:17 am
Great article Joe.
I love his quote and mentality.
He’s a solid American man.
His words made me cry.
I wish everyone was raised like Hainsey.