Bucky Irving made his presence felt immediately in 2024, finishing his rookie campaign with 1,514 scrimmage yards — 1,122 rushing and 392 receiving, which was the most by any rookie and good for 10th in the NFL overall. Now, entering Year 2 in Tampa Bay’s offense, Irving has a clear path to build on that breakout season. And all signs point to a bigger role and even bigger production.
Irving thrived in 2024 under then–passing game coordinator Josh Grizzard, who’s now been promoted to offensive coordinator. That continuity matters. The Buccaneers aren’t changing the system that allowed Irving to average 5.4 yards per carry and catch 47 passes out of the backfield.
With Rachaad White still in the mix, Tampa is expected to run more two-back sets, which is a perfect scenario for a player like Irving, whose ability to create in space and contribute as a receiver makes him a matchup nightmare. His late-season surge saw him take over primary duties, logging 60–70% of the snaps down the stretch.
Bucky Irving is poised for a breakout season
Irving showed no signs of hitting a rookie wall. He had three 100+ yard games in the final six weeks and won NFC Offensive Player of the Week once. His balance, acceleration, and pass-catching make him more than a complementary option — he’s a featured weapon.
Tampa’s scheme should open up even more for him in 2025, with rookie receivers Emeka Egbuka and Tez Johnson adding deep speed to stretch defenses and leave more room underneath for Irving to operate. As well as the return of Godwin Jr’s underrated blocking to help open up holes down the field.
If Irving’s usage climbs slightly, even to 8–12 more touches over the full year, he’s positioned to deliver a jump in production.
Projected 2025 totals:
Rushing yards: 1,200Receiving yards: 450Total scrimmage yards: 1,650