Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Raymond James Stadium
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hoping to bounce back in 2026 after a rough close to the 2025 season that saw them miss out on the NFL playoffs altogether. One of the many Buccaneers players who dealt with injury concerns last year was running back Bucky Irving, who missed time due to foot and shoulder issues.
Recently, Irving spoke on how those setbacks only made him stronger moving forward.
“Actually, I found out a lot about myself last year. I've been playing football since I was four, and that was my first time actually being away from the game and being hurt… In this game, we play a physical game, we play the running back position, we get banged up every week. At some point, some adversity's going to come in life… you've just got to know how to go about it,” he said, per NFL insider Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network on X, formerly Twitter.
When he's been on the field, Irving has established himself as one of the most talented young running backs in the league today, using his elite speed and dynamic ability as a pass catcher to be utilized as a multifaceted tool in the Buccaneers' offense.
The Buccaneers will also be looking for a bounce-back year from quarterback Baker Mayfield after his play tapered off significantly down the stretch of last season, looking more like the early-career version of himself than the revitalized player that fans had grown accustomed to seeing in Tampa Bay.
In any case, the Buccaneers are slated to kick off their new season on September 13 with a tough road game against the Cincinnati Bengals.