news-engine

Jason Licht Reacts To Vita Vea’s Contract Extension August 19th, 2026Reports at the start of training camp that Bucs Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea injured his back demanded a trade was that Vea had his heels dug in and was willing to go the distance to stand up for his honor and get paid a fair wage. Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht was equally entrenched, saying he had no plans to trade Vea. Well, cooler heads prevailed. Vea agreed to an extension on Wednesday. And after the dust settled, Licht offered his words of relief that Vea’s injured back is healed contract hassle is over. “Vita is exactly the type of player and person we want to build around in Tampa Bay,” Licht said in a statement issues Wednesday night. “He has been a dominant force in the middle of our defense, an exceptional teammate, and a tremendous leader in our locker room. “One of the keys to our recent success has been our ability to draft, develop and re-sign core, foundational players who set the standard for what it means to be a Buccaneer. “As one of our team leaders, Vita has played a big role in establishing that winning culture, and we are excited to have him continuing to help lead the way as we pursue our next championship.” With Vea locked up, that makes the middle of the Bucs’ defense a gnarly group to tangle with. Consider who now plays in the middle of the Bucs’ defense: A’Shawn Robinson, Calijah Kancey, Alex Anzalone, Josiah Trotter, Antoine Winfield, Tykee Smith and Vea. Good luck between the hashmarks for opposing offenses. https://t.co/mk0HH13s4I pic.twitter.com/h2HoXY590J — Alex Anzalone (@AlexAnzalone34) August 19, 2026