Bucky Irving
RB
#7
Experience: 3 years
Height: 5-10
Weight: 195 lbs
College: Oregon
Preseason
| WK | Game Date | OPP | RESULT | ATT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | REC | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | FUM | LOST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 08/28/2026 | @Jaguars | L 0 - 19 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | 08/22/2026 | Chiefs | W 16 - 15 | 3 | 14 | 4.7 | 7 | 0 | |||||||
| 1 | 08/14/2026 | @Jets | W 24 - 16 |
Biography
ACQUIRED BY BUCS:
Selected by the Buccaneers as a fourth-round pick (125th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft.
ACQUIRED BY BUCS:
Selected by the Buccaneers as a fourth-round pick (125th overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES:
1x NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 13, 2024).
2024 PFWA All-Rookie Team.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Has appeared in 27 career games for the Buccaneers, making 12 starts and totaling 380 carries for 1,710 rushing yards (4.5 avg.) and 9 rushing touchdowns. Also added 77 receptions for 669 yards and three receiving touchdowns.
Has played in one postseason contest, logging 17 carries for 77 yards and adding two receptions for six yards and one touchdown.
Irving led all rookies in scrimmage yards (1,514), rushing yards (1,122) and rushing touchdowns (8) during the 2024 season.
In 2024, Irving became the first Tampa Bay rusher to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in a season since Doug Martin did so in 2015.
Irving's 5.4 yards per carry in 2024 was the third-highest mark in NFL history among rookies with at least 200 rushing attempts in a season, trailing only Adrian Peterson (5.6 in 2007) and Clinton Portis (5.5 in 2002). His 5.4 yards per carry established a new Buccaneers single-season record for any qualified rusher.
Per Next Gen Stats, Irving forced the highest missed tackle rate among ball carriers with at least 150 touches (35.8%) during the 2024 season.
2025 HIGHLIGHTS:
Started at running back in the Week 1 victory in Atlanta, playing 44-of-58 offensive snaps and contributing 37 rushing yards on 14 carries, in addition to adding four receptions for eight yards and one receiving touchdown — his first career regular season receiving score.
In the Week 2 win at Houston, started at running back and played 57-of-80 offensive snaps. Finished with 121 yards from scrimmage by way of 71 rushing yards on 17 carries (4.2 avg.) and 50 receiving yards on six receptions.
Week 2 marked Irving's sixth game with 100+ yards from scrimmage, most among all 2024 draft selections at the time.
Started at running back and played 53-of-72 offensive snaps in the Week 3 win over the New York Jets, totaling 99 scrimmage yards in the form of 66 rushing yards on 25 carries and 33 receiving yards on four catches.
In Week 4 vs. Philadelphia, started at running back and played 44-of-72 offensive snaps. He finished with a team-high 165 yards from scrimmage by way of a team-high 102 receiving yards on five catches with one scoreand 63 rushing yards on 15 attempts (4.2 avg.).
Irving's 165 scrimmage yards in Week 4 represented his then-third-highest total of his career, trailing only Week 13 of the 2024 season at Carolina (185) and Week 17 of the 2024 season vs. Carolina (190).
In Week 4, Irving became the first player in franchise history to record 100+ receiving yards and 50+ rushing yards in the same game.
Generated a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeted in Week 4, bringing in all five of his targets for 102 yards and a score. His 102 receiving yards established a then-career high.
Was inactive for Weeks 5-12.
Returned from injury in Week 13, contributing a team-high 81 yards from scrimmage by way of 17 carries for 61 yards with one score and two catches for 20 yards. His rushing touchdown marked his first of the season, and his third overall scrimmage touchdown on the year.
With his 81 scrimmage yards in Week 13, Irving eclipsed the 2,000 scrimmage yards milestone in the 22nd game of his career. In doing so, he became the third player in franchise history with 2,000+ scrimmage yards in their first 25 career games (Warrick Dunn, Doug Martin). The only other running backs drafted since 2018 with 2,000+ scrimmage yards in their first 22 career games played are Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, Josh Jacobs and Jonathan Taylor.
Started at running back in Week 14 vs. New Orleans, producing a team-high 81 yards from scrimmage, carrying the ball 15 times for 55 yards and bringing in two catches for 26 yards and a touchdown. Irving's catch-and-run touchdown marked his third receiving score of the season. He also recorded a then-season-long 32-yard carry on the day.
Irving's touchdown grab in Week 14 was his 12th scrimmage touchdown of his career, coming in his first 23 career games played. The only Buccaneers running back with more touchdowns from scrimmage through their first 23 career games played was Doug Martin with 13.
Among players with 20+ targets through Week 14, Irving had produced a 147.7 passer rating when targeted — the third-highest mark in the NFL behind Buffalo's Dalton Kincaid (155.9) and Green Bay's Tucker Kraft (148.6). The 147.7 mark led all running backs, regardless of target volume.
In Week 15 vs. Atlanta, contributed 71 yards from scrimmage in the form of 16 carries for 60 rushing yards and one catch for 11 yards.
Started at running back in Week 16 at Carolina, playing 40-of-64 offensive snaps and carrying the ball 19 times for a team-leading 71 rushing yards.
Per Pro Football Focus, Irving was Tampa Bay's second-highest graded player in Week 16, earning an 83.0 overall grade.
Started at running back in Week 17 at Miami, playing 36-of-67 offensive snaps. Contributed 33 yards from scrimmage with 19 rushing yards and 14 receiving yards.
In the Week 18 win over Carolina, started at running back and played 42- of-67 offensive snaps, contributing 98 yards from scrimmage in the form of a career-high 26 carries for 85 yards and one catch for 13 yards.
COLLEGE:
Appeared in 39 career games between the University of Minnesota (2021) and the University of Oregon (2022-23), totaling 475 carries for 2,937 yards (6.2 avg.) and 20 rushing touchdowns while adding 95 receptions for 785 yards and five receiving touchdowns.
He received second-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2023 after starting all 14 games and posting career highs in carries (186), rushing yards (1,180), rushing touchdowns (11), receptions (56) and receiving yards (413). He led all FBS running backs in receptions.
As a sophomore in 2022, started 12- of-13 games and logged 156 carries for 1,058 yards and five rushing touchdowns, adding 31 receptions for 299 yards. He subsequently received honorable mention All-Pac-12 recognition for his play.
Was named the 2022 Holiday Bowl Game MVP after recording 13 carries for 149 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
As a freshman at the University of Minnesota in 2021, he logged 133 carries for 699 yards and four touchdowns. He finished the season leading the Gophers in all-purpose yards.
COMMUNITY:
Partnered with quarterback Baker Mayfield to help donate $10,000 to After-School All-Stars Tampa Bay through the Giving Bowl.
Mentored young athletes at the 2025 Girls Flag Football Preseason Classic in Tampa Bay.
PERSONAL:
Attended Hillcrest High School (Chicago, Ill.), where he lettered in football and basketball.
Earned All-State honors and was named the Conference Player of the Year as a high school senior in 2019.
As a junior in 2018, led his team to a 12-1 record and the conference title game.
Has two siblings (one brother, one sister).
Was given the nickname 'Bucky' by his late father, Marcellus.
Full name is Mar'Keise Irving.