​Buccaneers LB makes NFL rookie history after sack, pick-six in pro debut originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost in Week 1, 33-27 to the Cincinnati Bengals. While Week 1 didn’t go as planned, one individual performance was about as good as it could be.For NFL rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter, his NFL debut was incredible. Not only did he make a legitimately massive impact for the Buccaneers, but he made some NFL history in the process.According to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, Trotter is the only rookie in NFL history since sacks became an official statistic to record a sack and a pick-six in their NFL debut. No rookie in the last 44 years has ever accomplished this feat. Until now.Josiah Trotter makes NFL history with sack and a pick-six in debut”Rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter is the first NFL rookie with a pick-six and a sack in his NFL debut since sacks became an official stat in 1982, according to the Elias Sports Bureau,” Laine writes.While eight other players have had an interception and a sack in their NFL debuts as rookies, no other player has ever had a pick-six and a sack in their debut before.That is, until Sunday, when Trotter accomplished the feat against the Bengals. He finished his first NFL game against Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense with 11 total tackles, one pick-six, one sack, and one pass defended.MORE: Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin trolls Browns after ugly loss to JaguarsTrotter’s debut in the NFL is something that’s never been done before, as no rookie has ever had an interception returned for a touchdown and a sack in their debut before.It’s all the more impressive that it came off Burrow, one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. The 21-year-old rookie out of Missouri was selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft and is already looking like a steal one game into his NFL career.This feat of NFL history is quite the way to start an NFL career. He will look to build on this strong start in Week 2 when the Buccaneers face the Cleveland Browns, a matchup prime for more turnovers and sacks for Trotter.More NFL news:Why Cardinals could trade Jacoby Brissett during 2026 seasonHow Travis Hunter could win Comeback Player of the Year for Jaguars in 2026Broncos CB Riley Moss predicted to land $17M per-year deal this offseasonPackers $92M contract extension with Tucker Kraft can make NFL historyCarson Wentz changes Vikings quarterback conversation in stunning Week 1 win