Former Bucs WR Scotty Miller Signs With NFC South Rival

Scotty Miller is leaving the Bucs in free agency, but he isn’t going that far. According to Adam Schefter, Miller is signing with Atlanta Falcons on a one-year deal. This keeps him in the NFC South and he will play against the Bucs two times a season.

Miller was a favorite amongst Bucs fans during his four seasons in Tampa as he excited many with his small size and blazing speed. He was drafted in the fifth round out of Bowling Green in the 2019 NFL Draft. Miller became known as a down field threat because of his speed as a wide receiver on the outside, showing signs of it towards the tail end of his rookie year and really putting it together in the Super Bowl winning 2020 season.

Reviewing The Career Of Miller As A Buc

In his career, he has played in 50 games and four playoff games with 10 totals starts and recorded 83 catches for 1,050 yards with five receiving touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.

Bucs WR Scotty Miller – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

After missing six games as a rookie, Miller’s best year of his career the season after in 2020 when getting to work with quarterback Tom Brady. Miller had career highs in almost every major category for the regular season with 33 receptions, 501 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He helped the Bucs win a Super Bowl that season with a historic play, but we’ll revisit that in a bit.

A turf toe injury severely limited him in 2021 as he was only able to play in nine games and make five receptions for 38 yards. It was a crowded room at wide receiver for the Bucs even before the injury and it was hard for him to get playing time even when healthy. He was mostly used in a special teams role as a gunner where he made some key plays, including recovering a fumble.

Miller was available for every game last season but was a inactive twice, playing in 15 games on the year. Once again it became a numbers game where Miller didn’t play much due to his spot on the depth chart and continued to play special. His numbers jumped up a little bit with 23 catches for 185 yards with the brief amount of playing time.

There wasn’t much of a need to bring Miller back next season as the Bucs look to shake up the receivers room after their top three wide receivers. Miller has a new opportunity with the Falcons and we shall see what’s in store for him in a new spot.

Miller’s Historic Play

Bucs WR Scotty Miller – Photo by: USA Today

Miller will always be a part of Bucs history for his iconic touchdown catch on the last play of the first half during the NFC Championship game against the Packers.

With eight seconds to go in the second quarter and the Bucs leading 14-10 on the road, Tampa Bay had the ball on the Packers’ 39-yard line. Many expected the Bucs to try and just get a couple more quick yards and get out of bounds to set up a closer field goal to extend their lead going into halftime. But as the ball was snapped, Miller had 1-on-1 coverage with Kevin King and ran by him down the field as he was several . Brady saw the play developing and hit Miller perfectly for a thrilling 39-yard touchdown that put Tampa Bay up 21-10 at the half.

It was a thrilling, unexpected moment that brought the Bucs momentum into the second half, instantly forcing a fumble and scoring a touchdown early in the third quarter to go up 28-10. They held on following the Packers’ attempt to come back as Tampa Bay won the NFC championship 31-26. Two weeks and one game later, the Bucs beat the Chiefs 31-9 inside Raymond James Stadium and were Super Bowl Champions.

Without Miller’s huge play, the Bucs hoist the Lombardi trophy. His moment will always be remembered as a highlight play in Tampa during that championship season.