McLendon found out about trade to Bucs before final game with Jets

Steve McLendon has one of the more bizarre trade stories in recent NFL history.

The defensive tackle told reporters Friday that he found out he was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to playing in his final game for the New York Jets in Week 6.

"I got the news on Saturday night that a car would be waiting for me after the game on Sunday to come to Tampa," McLendon said, according to Pewter Report's Taylor Jenkins. "Sunday morning I woke up, I prayed, and I was like, it's one last ride. I told my boys, 'It's one last ride together.'"

McLendon still played 43% of New York's defensive snaps in a loss to the Miami Dolphins last Sunday.

"A lot of guys were saying, 'Man, you're really going to play?'" he said. "And I said this could be the last time I play with y'all in my career, so let's go out here and make it a great one, let's go have some fun. Even though we lost that day, there was some good football played between us, and when it was over with, it was emotional."

The Jets acquired a 2022 sixth-round pick and a 2023 seventh-round selection from Tampa Bay for the 34-year old.