Buccaneers DL Makes Bold Prediction About His 2025 Performance

Calijah Kancey said he'll lead the league in sacks if he plays a full season in 2025.

Calijah Kancey #94 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts to a play against the Washington Commanders during the first quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 12, 2025. Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Calijah Kancey says if he’s healthy, he'll lead the NFL in sacks this season.

A 2023 first-round pick of the Buccaneers, Kancey exploded onto the scene in November 2023 with an NFC Defensive Player of the Month award that saw him post two sacks, four QB hits, and 10 tackles. Kancey battled a nagging calf injury into the 2024 season but had another stellar campaign with 7.5 sacks in just 12 games played, including 6.5 in the final nine. In a press conference on Monday, Kancey said he wants to stay healthy and help the Bucs defense perform at the same level as the offense.

Kancey began the exchange by talking about his exit interview with head coach Todd Bowles after the season. “It was more so of me making sure that I’m ready, come beginning of the season, not missing those five games [like] I did the first two seasons,” he said. “Really, just making sure I’m doing everything to not miss those games, but also to continue to dominate at a high level.”

Kancey has dealt with calf injuries in both his NFL seasons so far. He dealt with one going into his rookie campaign, which he aggravated in his NFL debut in Week 1 of the 2023 season. He missed three games due to that injury. Upon returning, he put up impressive numbers in November, with 1o tackles, four quarterback hits, and two sacks and a pass defended. He became the first defensive lineman in team history to win Defensive Player of the Month honors. He finished the season with 26 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, and four sacks.

He missed the first five games of the 2024 season with another calf injury. Despite the setback, he put up impressive numbers in the 12 games he did play. He had 6.5 sacks in the final nine games of the season, and finished the season with 28 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 17 QB hits, and 7.5 sacks, which led the team. He added a forced fumble and a recovery.

In the press conference, Kancey indicated that he suffered injuries to each calf muscle. “Honestly, I think I got both of them out the way now,” he joked.

A reporter then asked what would happen if he were able to suit up for a full season in 2025. “I think you'll be looking at the sack leader,” Kancey said.

“In Tampa Bay or the league?” the reporter followed up.

“In the league,” Kancey said.

In the same press conference, linebacker Yaya Diaby said he planned to compete for that title. “Hey, I want him to win as much as he [wants] me to win but that’s just something we’re going to have to fight for,” Diaby said. “But it’s going to be fun.”

Diaby also exploded onto the scene in his rookie year in 2023, playing in all 17 games and starting seven. He posted 38 tackles, 12 TFLs, eight QB hits, 7.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two recoveries. He had just 4.5 sacks in 2024, but had 54 tackles, 13 TFLs, 20 QB hits, a forced fumble, and a recovery.

Kancey had praise for his 2023 Draft classmate. “Yaya is going to have a crazy season,” he said. “We don’t stop talking about it ... We always talk about how we want to go out there and dominate ... just looking at the work that’s been put in this offseason, [it’s] definitely rolling on the right path.”

The Bucs have had a recent NFL sack leader: outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett led the league in 2019 with 19.5 sacks. And last year’s sack leader was Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, with 17.5 sacks. But Kancey and Diaby will both have to compete with free agent acquisition Haason Reddick, who posted double-digit sack counts in four of the last five seasons.

Regardless of individual accolades, Kancey wants the defense to elevate their performance.

“We definitely want to raise the bar here every day,” he said. “We all want to hold each other to a higher standard and bring more to the table. I mean, it’s year three for me, I’m sure the coaches, my teammates, they all want to see more from me as much as I want to see more from myself. So that’s just how it is around here. We all bring each other up, and we also want to be as good as our offense is as well.”