Bucky Irving, Rachaad White, and Sean Tucker transformed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ run game into a finely tuned machine in 2024.
After a 2023 season in which the franchise rushed for just 90.4 yards per game (ranked 31st), under new coordinator Liam Coen and Irving’s help, the Buccaneers’ rushing attack morphed into one of the NFL’s best.
Averaging a crisp 146.5 yards per game (ranked fifth), the Buccaneers developed into a nightmare for defenses to cope with.
In his rookie season, Irving usurped White as the No. 1 back, rushing for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns, while White rushed for 613 yards and three touchdowns, and Sean Tucker also chipped in with 308 yards and two touchdowns from his limited touches.
Now, with Irving becoming a star, the Buccaneers’ run game is something to be feared, and for Bleacher Report, is the fifth-best rushing attack in football.
“Irving shared the workload with White, who ceded a significant number of touches to his rookie running mate,” Bleacher Report writes. “Still, the versatile tailback eclipsed 1,000 scrimmage yards, averaging a career-high 4.3 yards per carry. While Irving and White led the backfield, Tucker filled in the gaps, accumulating 417 scrimmage yards and scoring three touchdowns. If Grizzard pushes the right buttons with his play-calling, Tampa Bay’s backfield will continue to garner league-wide respect.”
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
With Irving expected to be the starter from the outset in 2025 under new coordinator Josh Grizzard, many think the Bucs will be a dominant force on the ground again.
But could they become one of the best rushing attacks in football? Considering they were last season, and if we project Irving and Tucker to improve, it is entirely plausible for Baker Mayfield to have a stellar run game again in 2025.
Irving showed out in his rookie season and was complemented well by White and Tucker. If that trio shows out again, then come this time next season, they might be a little higher than the fifth-best rushing attack in football.
