Gerald McCoy

After being redshirted for the 2006 season, the young McCoy faced high expectations. In 2007, the Big 12 named McCoy the Defensive Freshman of the Year.[10] He finished the 2007 season with 19 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks while starting and playing in 13 games.[11]

In his sophomore season, McCoy led all of Oklahoma's interior defensive linemen with 30 tackles and was second on the team with 6.5 sacks. He also had career-high two sacks against Texas and his first career interception came in the BCS title game against Florida. After the season, he was named Sporting News First Team All-American, AP Second Team All- American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.[12]

Despite having been considered one of the top prospects for the 2009 NFL Draft, McCoy chose to return to Oklahoma for his junior season.[13] Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 2 defensive tackle in college football in 2009.[14] McCoy finished the season playing in 15 games making 35 tackles (15.5 for losses) six sacks, two passes broken up, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He was voted First-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation. McCoy also became the 37th Sooner player to earn All-America honors in more than one season. He was named to All-America teams by The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated after the 2008 season.[15] On November 10, McCoy was named one of four finalists for the 2009 Lombardi Award.[16] McCoy was the only non-senior on a list that also included Terrence Cody, Jerry Hughes, and Ndamukong Suh.

At the University of Oklahoma, McCoy was a two-time team captain that started all 40 games during his career (2007– 09), playing the three-technique right defensive tackle position. He also recorded two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, one interception, and four passes defensed.[17]

McCoy was considered one of the top prospects of the 2010 NFL Draft. Before the draft, he was projected as either a 4–3 three-technique defensive tackle or a 3–4 defensive end at the professional level.[18][19]

McCoy was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 3rd overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft (as projected, to play 3-technique DT). He was the highest selected Sooners defender since Tony Casillas went to the Atlanta Falcons in 1986. He was also the second of three Oklahoma Sooners drafted in the first four picks of the 2010 NFL Draft, marking the first time in NFL history that one college has had three players selected among the first four picks. Quarterback Sam Bradford was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the 1st pick and Offensive Tackle Trent Williams was selected by the Washington Redskins with the 4th pick.[21][22][23] McCoy and the Buccaneers agreed to a five-year, $63 million contract on July 31, 2010.[24]

McCoy made his NFL debut against the Cleveland Browns on September 12, 2010. The Buccaneers won the game 17-14, thanks in large part to a great defensive performance that saw McCoy make three tackles while forcing a fumble.[25] McCoy also became just the fifth defensive rookie to start for the Buccaneers on opening day since 1995 when Warren Sapp played against the Philadelphia Eagles in a 21-6 victory.[17] McCoy recorded his first NFL sack against the San Francisco 49ers on November 21, 2010. In the game, the Bucs shut out the Niners 21-0 for their first win in Candlestick Park since 1980. His first multi-sack game came a week later, on November 28, 2010 when he sacked quarterback Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens twice. The Buccaneers ended up losing that game 17 to 10 despite a strong defensive performance. On December 12, 2010, McCoy suffered a torn left biceps, causing the team to place him on IR two days later.[26]

McCoy finished 2010 tied for third on the Buccaneers with 3.0 sacks, tied for fourth on the team with 6.0 tackles for loss and ranked second with 17 quarterback pressures during his rookie season, despite missing the final three games.

In his second season in the NFL, McCoy once again was limited by injuries and appeared in only 11 games.

McCoy was placed on injured reserve on November 7, 2011 after tearing his right biceps during the opening quarter of a 27–16 loss to New Orleans that dropped the Bucs (4–4) into third place in the NFC South. He had just returned to the lineup after sitting out the previous two games because on an ankle injury.

It was the second straight year McCoy's season ended prematurely because of an arm injury. The Bucs finished their struggling 2011 season on a 10-game losing streak which led to the firing of head coach Raheem Morris.

McCoy bounced back in 2012, having a significant impact on the Bucs' top-ranked rushing defense and earning his first Pro Bowl berth in his first season un-marred by injury.

"I just wanted to play a full season," McCoy said. "This is definitely a gift from God. God has outdone himself with this."My goal was to be my best for my team. But by doing that, I was able to accomplish that and show people that I can play a little football." Receiver Vincent Jackson and running back Doug Martin were named alternates for the Pro Bowl, joining their teammate McCoy.[27] His stats on the year were 30 tackles (at least 10 tackles for a loss), 5 Sacks, and 1 forced fumble.

McCoy began the 2013 season in good form, registering 2 sacks and a fumble recovery by Week 4. McCoy continued his strong season with a big game against the Miami Dolphins in Week 10. He recorded 5 tackles including 2 for a loss, and also sacked Miami Quarterback Ryan Tannehill. McCoy enjoyed the most productive day of his career in Week 11 of the 2013 season. Registering 6 tackles, 3 sacks and a pass deflection at home against the Atlanta Falcons, tying a franchise single-game sack record for a defensive tackle with Warren Sapp and Brad Culpepper. McCoy was voted to his second consecutive Pro Bowl in 2013. He finished the season with 50 Total Tackles, 9 Sacks, 8 Tackles for a Loss, 4 Pass Deflections and a Fumble Recovery. He was ranked by Pro Football Focus as the NFL's Best Defensive Tackle for the 2013 NFL Season. McCoy was named first-team All-Pro by the associated press along with teammate Lavonte David.

McCoy and the Bucs entered the 2014 season with a new head coach, Lovie Smith. He is McCoy's third coach in 5 NFL seasons. After continuing his strong play and being a stand out leader of the Bucs defense McCoy and Tampa Bay were working on a new deal. On October 25, 2014, McCoy signed a 7-year extension worth $98 million, and $51.5 million guaranteed. At the time, it was the biggest contract ever for a defensive tackle.[29][30] During week 15 against the Carolina Panthers McCoy injured his knee and was placed on Injured reserve the following Tuesday ending his 2014 season with 35 combined tackles, 28 solo tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. Despite his injury he was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl.

Despite dealing with hand and shoulder ailments throughout the season McCoy was still able to produce 34 combined tackles and 8.5 sacks which resulted in his 4th consecutive selection to the Pro Bowl. He was ranked 63rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.[31]

In 2016, McCoy was named to his fifth-straight Pro Bowl and was named second-team All-Pro. He was also ranked 52nd on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.[32]

On December 19, 2017, McCoy was named to his sixth straight Pro Bowl.[33]

On May 20, 2019, McCoy was released by the Buccaneers after spending nine seasons with the team.[34]

On June 3, 2019, McCoy signed with the Carolina Panthers.[35] In week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, McCoy sacked former teammate Jameis Winston 2.5 times in the 37-26 win.[36]

On March 31, 2020, McCoy signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys.[37] After suffering a ruptured quadriceps injury in practice, he was released by the Cowboys on August 18, 2020, through an injury waiver clause in his contract.[38]