Today the NFL was saddened to learn of the passing of Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer. Glazer was the third NFL owner to pass in the last seven months.
Glazer bought the Bucs in 1995. At the time, the Bucs were the laughing stock of the NFL both for their uniforms (creamsicle and white) and for their pathetic performance on the field. Glazer took a hands off approach to ownership, hiring coach Tony Dungy and front office personnel who knew how to run the football side of the operations. The formula would prove successful as the Bucs would go on to make seven playoff berths, five playoff wins, and win the Super Bowl in 2002. He also played a key role in bringing two Super Bowls to Tampa and overseeing the construction of Raymond James Stadium.
Glazer not only owned a NFL franchise, he was also the owner of the Manchester United Football Club in the Premier League which he purchased in 2005. Since that time Man U won five Premier League titles (2007-2009, 2011, 2013) and also captured the Champions League title in 2008.
Glazer had been in poor health for nearly a decade. In April 2006, he had a pair of strokes that him with impaired speech and limited mobility in his right arm and leg. Three of his sons had taken over the day to day operations of the Bucs since that time, but Glazer was still well loved in the NFL community.
Glazer left behind a tremendous and lasting legacy and a formula for how owners should operate their franchises to have lasting and long term success.
The Glazers say that the Bucs and Man U will remain in their family and will not face the uncertain future that befalls the Buffalo Bills.
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