The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are ready to unlock the full Bucky Irving experience in 2025.
After his 1,514-yard, eight-touchdown rookie season, Irving is reportedly showing even bigger growth ahead of his second season.
Irving rushed for 1,122 yards despite starting just three of 17 games a season ago. But Irving is now listed as the primary starting tail back instead of in a timeshare with Rachaad White.
What Is Different About Bucky Irving This Season?
According to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, Irving is not letting the expectations get to him, even though the team is clearly putting the rushing workload on him.
“I don’t pay attention to all of that,” Irving told Laine. “I’m not a guy that’s stuck in the past. I always say none of that stuff matters, what I did last year. It’s what I can do right now. I always had that mentality, not being stuck in what you did last year. It’s what you can do now.”
Yet, what Irving can do now is still both run and receive the ball at a high level. But what Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has seen is Irving’s improved blocking ability, which is a sure sign of growth from a running back that caught 47 passes a year ago.
“He’s extremely confident in the blitz pickup and the things that we really wanted him to progress in, so it’s been a fun progression to see,” Mayfield said.
Irving’s improvement, coupled with White’s strength in that facet, means Mayfield can have more time to throw, especially to rookie receiver and 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka.
“Obviously it’s a luxury for us on offense,” Mayfield said. “Especially where they’re at in pass protection knowledge of who they’re supposed to pick up, and the more they learn.
“Rachaad has been really, really good at it. They get out of the pass protection stuff quicker if they don’t have anybody to pick up, and they become just that free outlet.”
What Did Bucky Irving Say About His Off-Season Workouts?
According to Laine, Irving has been coming in early for his 5:30 a.m. ET workouts, which he has been doing with 86-year-old, longtime NFL coordinator and Peyton Manning’s mentor Tom Moore. Irving told Laine of the improvements he is gaining by being in the Bucs facility that early.
“Once you work in the dark, things come to the light,” Irving said.
That work ethic should play well with hungry Bucs fans. The 2020 Super Bowl champions have won the NFC South in four straight seasons yet have not been back to even the NFC Championship Game since Tom Brady and Tampa Bay defeated the Green Bay Packers in the title game at Lambeau Field in the COVID-altered season.
Irving himself has felt the fans’ enthusiasm for the new year already, and he’s hoping to put on a show from now until whenever the Bucs season ends.
“They’re coming out here, they getting up to get up, watch us practice,” Irving said. “So just being able to give’em something that’s fantastic and come out here and be excited for it.”
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