Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving knows all too well that his success in his rookie season wasn’t solely down to him.
He had help.
With Irving coming in as a fourth-round pick, and behind Rachaard White on the depth chart, it was going to be a slow burn for Bucky to get first-team reps, but White, the professional he is, didn’t push Irving away, looking at him as competition, he helped him grow.
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And yes, Irving would eventually usurp White as the starter, but Bucky knows he owes a lot to White for how the running back treated him early days.
“He’s meant everything to me, man,” Irving said on the Up & Adams Show. “As soon as I got here, [Rachaad] took me in with open arms. He just showed me the ropes, how the NFL is gonna treat me.”
Dec 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) carries the ball against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium.© Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Irving was a monster in his rookie season, with White still riding shotgun. He totaled 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns, while Rachaard still posted 613 yards and three touchdowns. Then-offensive coordinator Liam Coen used both Irving and White as a nice tandem while chucking in Sean Tucker, too.
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Now entering his second season, Irving is expected to again be a force on the ground for Josh Grizzard’s offense after a rookie season that showcased the value a good running back can have.
So while Irving stole the show last season in Tampa Bay as a fourth-round rookie, he has White to thank for showing him the way.
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