The Bucs Will Support Over 40 Non-Profits in Annual My Cause My Cleats Campaign
It is that time of year again for players to showcase their heart off the field. On Sunday, November 30, nearly 60 players, coaches and staff from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will participate in the NFL's My Cause My Cleats campaign, a league-wide initiative that allows players and staff to use their platforms to advocate for causes important to them through custom shoe designs. This year, Buccaneers players and staff will don over 40 different charitable organizations when the team hosts the Arizona Cardinals in a 1 p.m. ET clash on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. With an array of colors hitting the grass on Sunday, players will raise awareness on a grand scale.
Head Coach Todd Bowles will sport specially designed sneakers representing Autism Speaks – an organization dedicated to fostering understanding and acceptance of people with autism, along with advancing research into causes and improving interventions for autism spectrum disorder – in support of his son Tyson.
Players have the option to raise funds for their cause of choice through auctioning their cleats on NFL Auction, where 100% of funds raised will be donated to the charities they have selected. Fans may bid on player cleats at https://nflauction.nfl.com/. To learn more about causes and stories throughout the NFL, visit mycausemycleats.org.
To encourage fundraising for organizations chosen through My Cause My Cleats, the NFL is continuing its partnership with Rayze. The mobile-first platform, founded by seven-year NFL legend, Carl Nassib, aims to amplify nonprofit fundraising, corporate giving, and individual activism. By downloading the Rayze App, My Cause My Cleats participants receive their own custom 'Champion' donation links and QR codes to share across social media platforms, encouraging fans to support their causes. You can support players in their individual fundraising efforts through Rayze here.
For the complete list of Bucs' cleats and causes, click here:
Lavonte David Among 32 Players Nominated for 2025 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
Thirty-two players have been nominated for the twelfth annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. Each NFL team nominated a player for the award, which recognizes individuals around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship. Established in 2014, the award honors the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney Sr.
A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community — Warrick Dunn, 2014 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award recipient Larry Fitzgerald, Pro Football Hall of Famer Curtis Martin and Leonard Wheeler — will select eight finalists (four in the AFC and four in the NFC) from the 32 nominees. The eight finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category when players vote in December.
"Sportsmanship is at the very the core of the game, the foundation of our values that are shared across all levels of the sport," said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations. "These Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominees demonstrate to the world how the game is played with respect and integrity at the highest level of competition."
The award is presented each year to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents and integrity in competition. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Lavonte David is the chosen representative. His silhouette hangs in the Draft Room with the message, "I Am That Man," a personal reminder made by the Bucs' front office to acquire players that match the credentials that David embodies daily.
Return of Bucky Irving
Running back Bucky Irving will make his highly-anticipated return to the field against the Cardinals on Sunday, after missing seven games due to foot and shoulder injuries. In 2024, Irving took the NFL by storm, leading all rookies with 1,122 rushing yards, 1,514 yards from scrimmage and eight rushing touchdowns. Irving captivated fans with his ability to make defenders miss and spurred Tampa Bay's rushing attack. He energizes the Bucs' offense with his lateral cuts, elusive features and vision. On Wednesday, Irving addressed the mental battle he dealt with during his time away from the field and support from his inner circle.
"It is tough, your first time being hurt," said Irving. "When I step on that field, I always say, 'I don't take this game for granted.' I love what I do every day and I love my teammates. When I go out there, I play and show them that each and every time I get the ball, I am trying to make plays and make things happen for this organization and this team to help them in any type of fashion to win football games so when God takes something away from you, He is telling you to get more closer to him and to lean on Him. Being down and having something taken away from you, I was alright because I had the right people around me."
