Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead was in a horrific car accident on Saturday, Jan. 4, and was cited for careless driving. He suffered a cervical fracture in his neck and will miss the 2025 NFL playoffs. Injuries to their defensive backfield have decimated Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers are expected to get back two key players.
Jordan Whitehead Out for Playoffs With Cervical Fracture in Neck
Tampa Bay lost a key piece of its secondary last Saturday as Whitehead’s Corvette collided with a GMC pickup truck less than two blocks from the team’s practice facility. Whitehead will be fine for next season, but he’ll be unavailable for the balance of the 2025 playoffs.
Whitehead was also charged with careless driving. The driver of the GMC pickup was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, pursuant to a police report obtained by Fox Sports.
Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles was shaken after hearing the news, but he had nothing but good things to say about Whitehead.
“It was tough, because Jordan, ever since I’ve been here, the six years I’ve been here, he’s never been late,” Bowles said after last Sunday’s win over the New Orleans Saints.
“He’s never been in any trouble; he’s a model citizen. He’s the guy who helps everybody else, and it was very unfortunate for that to happen. We wish all the parties involved get well (and) get well fast.
“It was kind of a reality shock for us of how some things can be taken away from you at a moment’s notice. We discussed it (Saturday) night in a meeting. We talked about it. When you love somebody, they’re going to make a mistake, and you have to understand that, and you have to love them anyway. He would’ve played for us, and we’re going to play for him.”
Whitehead played two seasons with the New York Jets before signing a two-year, $9 million contract to rejoin the Buccaneers this past March, who he spent the first four seasons of his career with.
Whitehead was limited to 12 games this season but was happy to rejoin former teammate Antoine Winfield Jr. in the secondary. The two were main contributors to Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl 55 victory.
Winfield only saw action in nine games, though, this season due to various injuries. In 12 games, Whitehead had 79 tackles and three passes broken up.
On a positive note, Winfield and Jamel Dean are expected to return for Sunday night’s game against the Washington Commanders at Raymond James Stadium.