Bucky Irving’s Late-Season Surge Has Todd Bowles Excited About Buccaneers’ Future

Bucky Irving’s Late-Season Surge Has the Buccaneers Excited for the Future

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving is finishing his first NFL season strong, demonstrating impressive growth as he continues to make an impact on the field. Over the past two weeks, Irving has set career highs in both rushing yards and scrimmage yards, showcasing his increasing comfort in the offense. This late-season surge is exactly what the Buccaneers need as they continue their push for the NFC South title.

In Sunday’s thrilling 26-23 overtime victory over the Carolina Panthers, Irving rushed for 152 yards on 25 carries, both of which are far and away his career bests. He also found the end zone with a touchdown, contributing significantly to the Buccaneers’ win. Head coach Todd Bowles praised Irving’s development, stating that as the rookie running back becomes more comfortable with the offense, his role and impact on the game will continue to grow. Bowles noted, “The more comfortable he gets, the more you can give him, the more he can do.”

Irving’s success is particularly noteworthy considering his ability to make defenders miss in tight spaces. Bowles highlighted Irving’s unique skill set: “He has a skill you can’t teach – he can make people miss in the hole. He’s tough on the inside.” With his explosive playing style, Irving complements fellow running back Rachaad White, and the two have formed a dynamic duo in the backfield. Bowles has emphasized how effectively the two running backs work together to make the offense more unpredictable and dangerous for defenses.

With a total of 1,017 scrimmage yards in 2024, Irving has joined LeGarrette Blount as the only rookie running backs in Buccaneers’ history to surpass 1,000 scrimmage yards. Additionally, Irving has maintained consistency, running for over 70 yards and one touchdown in each of his last three games, tying a franchise record for a rookie (set by Doug Martin in 2012).

Irving’s impressive performances have put him in the conversation for Offensive Rookie of the Year, though he humbly credits much of his success to his offensive line. “I don’t really like taking all the credit,” Irving said. “It’s those guys up front. I think I have to do something really nice for those guys for Christmas, because they’re getting the job done.” His selflessness underscores his team-first mentality, which has only endeared him further to coaches and teammates alike.

The Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator Liam Cohen has made an excellent decision by incorporating “pony packages” — a formation that allows both Irving and White to share the backfield. This tactic has proven effective in causing headaches for opposing defenses, allowing the Buccaneers to mix up their play calling with a variety of schemes. Irving described the versatility of the two-RB package: “We can run routes, we can do different runs, different schemes out of that package.”

Irving’s dual-threat ability has played a pivotal role in keeping the Buccaneers’ offense competitive. Despite some challenges earlier in the season, Tampa Bay remains in contention for the NFC South title, sitting at 6-6. With only one of their final five games against a team with a winning record, the Bucs have a realistic shot at making a deep playoff run — and much of that will depend on Irving’s continued development as a key offensive weapon.

The future looks bright for Bucky Irving, who has proven that he is not just a key contributor in his rookie year, but also a cornerstone for the Buccaneers’ offensive future.