Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ running back Bucky Irving was named to the 2024 All-Rookie Team, in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) following his sensational year on the gridiron.
Irving, a fourth-round selection (No. 125 overall) out of Oregon, led all rookies in rushing yards (1,122) and rushing touchdowns (8), while averaging 5.4 yards per attempt. His 5.4 yards per carry marked 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). Irving’s season rushing average also established a new Bucs’ single-season record (min. 100 rushes) and ranked fourth in the NFL among running backs, trailing only Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Irving added 47 receptions for 392 yards to total 1,514 yards from scrimmage. He became just the fourth rookie since 2018 to surpass 1,500 scrimmage yards, joining Puka Nacua (2023), Najee Harris (2022) and Saquon Barkley (2018).
Per NFL Next Gen Stats, Irving forced the highest missed tackle rate among ball carriers with at least 150 touches (35.8%). Additionally, his 91 missed tackles forced were the fourth-most in the NFL this season. Irving sparked a Tampa Bay rushing attack, which ranked 32nd in the NFL the previous two seasons, to the third-most rushing yards and the third-highest per carry average in the league in 2024. He spearheaded the ground attack, quickly getting downhill on gap runs. Irving took the NFL by storm in 2024, powering the run game with rare lateral movement skills and lethal jump-cuts that left defenders reeling. He became the most challenging back in the league to take down on first contact.
The 2024 All-Rookie team offense is made up of the Commanders’ Daniels at quarterback, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Bucky Irving and the Giants’ Tyrone Tracy Jr. at running back, the Giants’ Malik Nabers and the Jaguars’ Brian Thomas Jr. (also a PFWA All-AFC selection) at wide receiver, the Raiders’ Brock Bowers at tight end (also a PFWA All-NFL and All-AFC selection), the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Zach Frazier at center, the Raiders’ Jackson Powers-Johnson and the San Francisco 49ers’ Dominick Puni at guard with the Los Angeles Chargers’ Joe Alt and the Baltimore Ravens’ Roger Rosengarten at tackle.
