“Under the Radar: Yaya Diaby Reveals the Surprising Truth Behind His Overlooked Sacks and What It Means for His Future”

In the world of professional football, numbers often dominate the conversation—particularly when it comes to defensive prowess. For Yaya Diaby, the linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the statistics tell a somewhat complicated story. After a promising rookie season in 2023 where he racked up 7.5 sacks, the expectations grew when he stepped into a starting role in 2024. However, despite a significant increase in playing time, his sack numbers dipped to 4.5. Yet, Diaby is quick to challenge the notion that sacks are the sole measure of success. In an engaging discussion, he emphasized the importance of growth across various facets of his game, showcasing a more holistic approach to his performance. As he navigates the challenges of the new season—aiming to bolster his team’s pass rush alongside new teammate Haason Reddick—Diaby remains confident that his relentless effort will eventually translate to those coveted sacks. For more insights into Diaby’s journey and thoughts on his evolving role, LEARN MORE.

“Sometimes the game is a game of inches, you can get there but if you don’t take the quarterback down, you don’t get the sack. I’m proud of myself, that’s what I told myself toward the last couple of weeks. I was just saying how proud I am of myself. The sack number wasn’t where [I wanted it] at but I just let go, let loose, and it helped me out a lot.”The team’s outside linebackers combined for only 12 sacks last season, prompting them to sign Haason Reddick in free agency. They expect more this season, led by Diaby, who said “the sack part is going to come.”Diaby was around the quarterback all season with 20 quarterback hits and, per Pro Football Focus, 65 pressures.“Besides the sack numbers, I feel like I made major growth in every other category,” Diaby told the Pewter Report podcast. “I just want to thank myself and congratulate myself on that part, you know? I know for sure the sack part is going to come.”Buccaneers linebacker Yaya Diaby totaled 7.5 sacks as a rookie in 2023, finishing fifth in defensive rookie of the year voting. He became a full-time starter in 2024 and played 270 more snaps than as a rookie but made only 4.5 sacks.

“I feel like it gets overlooked because when people search up your name, they go straight to sacks because you’re an edge rusher,” Diaby said. “All of the other statistics really don’t show unless you actually search for it. I feel like I improved a lot in everything, run defense and my pass rush ability improved drastically.Diaby said sack stats aren’t everything.