In April 2004, the Broncos stopped contract negotiations with Gold after drafting D. J. Williams in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Four days later, Gold signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The contract was for seven years and $38 million with a $1.3 million signing bonus, though the contract only guaranteed the signing bonus and gave the team the option to release him after the 2004 season. Gold appeared in all 16 games for the Buccaneers, including 13 as the team's starting strongside linebacker. In early March 2005, the Buccaneers cut Gold to the free agent market rather than pay him a reported $9.6 million option bonus.