One starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from last season is doing whatever it takes to earn another NFL job in 2026, with veteran offensive lineman Michael Jordan accepting a rookie minicamp tryout offer from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jordan, 6-foot-6 and 312 pounds, started 9 games for the Buccaneers in 2025.
“The Eagles have G Michael Jordan and DE Isaiah Thomas participating as tryout players at rookie minicamp this weekend,” The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov wrote on his official X account on Friday.
The odds of NFL players who are the namesakes of 2 of the greatest players in NBA history being invited in for a tryout at the same time are astronomical — unless someone with the Eagles has a really weird sense of humor.
All jokes aside, the 6-foot-6, 312-pound Jordan started 9 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025 and could add key depth for the Eagles if he can get a training camp invite.
“Former Bucs guard Michael Jordan, unsigned after starting nine games for Tampa Bay last season, is a tryout player at Eagles rookie minicamp,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account.
Injury to NFL All-Pro Brought MJ to Bucs
The Buccaneers signed Jordan in July 2025 after he started 11 games for the New England Patriots in 2024.
“Bucs are signing a couple offensive linemen,” Tampa Bay Times NFL reporter Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account on July 24. “Former Chargers OL Tyler McLellan, 26, (6-8, 355 pounds).; and OL Michael Jordan, who played for the Bengals, Panthers and Patriots. In fact he started 11 games for NE last year.”
Through his first 7 seasons, Jordan has approximately $6.2 million in career earnings.
Jordan 4th Round Pick by Bengals in 2019
Jordan was a 4th round pick (No. 136 overall) by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2019 NFL draft after earning All-American honors at Ohio State in 2018. He started 19 games across his first 2 seasons with the Bengals before playing for the Carolina Panthers for 2 seasons.
He spent 2023 on the practice squad with the Green Bay Packers before getting a chance with the Patriots, where he started 11 games before he was released on December 3.
Jordan ended up with an overall grade of 51.4 from PFF in 2024 — 109th out of 136 eligible players — and was discernibly better in pass blocking situations (60.4) than he was in run blocking situations (44.8). In 2025, Jordan was somehow worse with a 49.7 overall grade that ranked him 74th out of 81 eligible players at his position.
The Buccaneers saw their offensive line absolutely decimated by injuries in 2025.
NFL All-Pro left offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs missed a career-high 5 games with a variety of injuries. Offensive right tackle Luke Goedeke missed a career-high 6 games. Starting guard Cody Mauch suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2. Starting guard Ben Bredeson suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 14.
The Buccaneers used 1 of their 2026 draft picks on an offensive lineman, taking 6-foot-5, 310-pound Notre Dame guard Billy Schrauth in the 5th round (No. 150 overall).
“The Bucs’ lack of guard depth really hurt them in pass protection and run blocking this past season when they lost starters Cody Mauch and Ben Bredeson to season-ending injuries,” ESPN’s Jenna Laine wrote. “Schrauth, a team captain, is a solid pass protector, an aggressive run blocker and a blue-collar weight room warrior who will mesh perfectly with the likes of Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke.
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