Shelton Quarles, unsung hero of legendary Bucs defense

On a star-studded defense full of Hall of Famers, linebacker Shelton Quarles was still an impact player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The iconic Tampa Bay Buccaneers defenses of the late-1990s and early 2000s are headlined by four Hall of Famers in linebacker Derrick Brooks, cornerback Ronde Barber, defensive tackle Warren Sapp, and safety John Lynch.

But that unit had other impact players who still don’t get the credit they deserve, and chief among them is middle linebacker Shelton Quarles.

Now the Director of Football Operations for the Bucs, Quarles was once a dynamic playmaker for those legendary Tampa Bay defenses, making big plays on a regular basis and helping the team win their first Super Bowl.

Take a look back at some of the best plays from Quarles’ career in Tampa Bay (courtesy of Liam Mitchell, Bucs Vault), and remind yourself of how important he was to that unit’s success:

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