Bucs RT Wirfs Aiming To Keep Up Elite Standard Of Play

Fresh off being named an All-Pro for the second consecutive season, Bucs right tackle Tristan Wirfs is focused on becoming one of the elite tackles in the NFL that only come around every so often. There are great tackles, and then there are the generational guys. Forrest Gregg. Joe Thomas. Jonathan Ogden. Count Wirfs as wanting to be one of them. Although he was beaten out by Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson for the first-team selection this year, Wirfs has nothing but for respect for Johnson’s continued excellence.

“I think it’s pretty cool, especially [being an] All-Pro,” Wirfs said after the selections were announced. “It’s like being recognized as one of the best at your position. First-team would have been cool, but Lane Johnson has been balling this year, so I figured he was going to get it. He’s had a really good past two years, but it’s really cool to get that kind of recognition.”

Bucs RT Wirfs Has Sights On Johnson’s Sackless Streak

Late last month, Wirfs started talking to Johnson after tagging him in a tweet. The tweet is a scatterplot illustrating their similar season-long dominance. Not only does Wirfs salute Johnson, but he also has his sights on an NFL record Johnson set this season. 

“This one guy tweets stuff, it’s like that scatterplot or whatever, and Lane and I have been at the top,” Wirfs said. “I tagged him in it a couple of weeks ago and he replied. I just messaged him in the DM’s, and I was like, ‘Congrats on a great year.’