Buccaneers Deny Emeka Egbuka's Involvement in Controversial 'CTE' Tweet

The team claims the account behind the viral post is not affiliated with the wide receiver.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 3:18pm

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A bizarre social media controversy has erupted around Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka after a tweet questioning whether CTE is real sparked outrage. The Buccaneers have insisted the account behind the post is not actually Egbuka's, despite the team having previously interacted with the profile on multiple occasions.

Why it matters

The tweet has drawn significant backlash given CTE's link to repeated head trauma in football. The situation raises questions about player social media accounts and team oversight, as well as the potential impact of controversial statements from high-profile athletes.

The details

The drama began on Wednesday when a blue-check X account claiming to belong to Egbuka posted: 'Is CTE even real?' The message quickly spread, with fans criticizing the sentiment. About an hour later, the Buccaneers' communications department stated the account was not owned or operated by Egbuka and was not affiliated with him or the team. However, the team has previously tagged and followed the account multiple times this year, leading some to question the legitimacy of their claim. The account in question appears legitimate on the surface, with thousands of followers and interactions with notable football-related accounts.

  • The controversial tweet was posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2026 at 2:27 PM ET.
  • The Buccaneers issued their statement denying the account's affiliation about an hour later.

The players

Emeka Egbuka

A wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who is coming off an impressive rookie season, playing all 17 games and recording 63 catches for 938 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The NFL team that Emeka Egbuka plays for, which has claimed the controversial Twitter account is not affiliated with the player.

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What they’re saying

“The below account is neither owned nor operated by Emeka Egbuka. It is in no way affiliated with Emeka or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.”

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Communications Department

What’s next

The Buccaneers have firmly denied the account's connection to Egbuka, but the team's past interactions with the profile have raised questions that may require further investigation or clarification.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the challenges teams and players face in managing social media accounts and the potential fallout from controversial statements, even if they are not directly from the athlete. It also underscores the need for greater oversight and transparency around player social media profiles.