Tampa holds Super Bowl boat parade for Buccaneers, Brady throws Lombardi trophy between boats

TAMPA, Fla. (NewsNation Now) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrated their Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs with a boat parade Wednesday afternoon.

The city of Tampa hosted the parade, which began at 1 p.m. EST. Thousands of fans decked out in Buccaneers gear lined the river on a sun-splashed day to cheer on stars such as quarterback Tom Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski and many others.

Brady was seen throwing the Lombardi Trophy across the Hillsborough River to another teammate caught the trophy while on another boat.

The team arrived by bus and boarded at least four boats.

Masks were required outdoors in all event zones and entertainment districts, including downtown and along the Tampa Riverwalk per Mayor Jane Castor’s executive order last month. The order is in effect until Saturday.

TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 10: Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders pose during a boat parade on February 10, 2021 after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 10: Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans line the Tampa Riverwalk to watch the boat parade on February 10, 2021 after the Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 10: Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans line the Tampa Riverwalk to watch the boat parade on February 10, 2021 after the Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 10: Head coach Bruce Arians of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers holds a beer during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl boat parade on February 10, 2021 after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 10: A fan holds a sign during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl boat parade on February 10, 2021 after the Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
A Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans arrives before the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Fans cheer during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

It appeared many were abiding by the mask order but many others were not. There were also dozens of people on private boats, kayaks and other watercraft crowding the river to catch a glimpse of the team.

“There isn’t a person on Earth that should disagree with the fact that the easiest way to avoid contracting or transmitting COVID-19 is simply by wearing a mask,” Castor said last month.

Boaters were be allowed in the water during the event but are not allowed to participate in the parade. Boat operators also had to stay at least 50 feet away from other vessels in the parade. Tampa held a similar parade for the Tampa Bay Lightning following their Stanley Cup win in September.

The Bucs beat the Chiefs 31-9 on their home field in Super Bowl LV on Sunday.

Brady and the Bucs became the first team to beat three former Super Bowl MVP quarterbacks on the way to the title, defeating Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes in successive games.

Tampa Bay became the seventh wild-card team to win it all and the first since the 2010 Green Bay Packers. The Bucs were the first team to win four playoff games on the way to the title since AFC North champion Baltimore did it eight years ago.

TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs walks with his head down in the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans celebrate their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LV in a parking lot near Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 7, 2021. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans celebrate their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LV in a parking lot near Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 7, 2021. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Fireworks go off over Raymond James Stadium during Super Bowl LV between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa, Florida on February 7, 2021. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on after winning Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs 31-9. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Andrew Adams #26 and Carlton Davis #24 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrate as confetti falls after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs 31-9. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates as he is reflected in the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs, 31-9. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers yells as he takes the field against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spikes the ball after scoring a 17-yard touchdown in the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: A fan wears a protective face mask as they sit among cardboard cutouts before Super Bowl LV between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium on February 7, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only a total of 22,000 fans were allowed in attendance to the game – with 7,500 of them being health care workers. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: A detailed view of the scoreboard after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs, 31-9. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Antoine Winfield Jr. #31 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gestures towards Tyreek Hill #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs after breaking up a pass during the fourth quarter of the game in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)