Bigger goals than personal.
The duo demonstrated what they could do together last year. Now, Rachaad White and Bucky Irving hope to help lead the Bucs to better things in the postseason.
White is entering a contract year, his fourth season in Tampa. And while he is no longer the bellcow of the Bucs’ ground game, White told DJ Siddiqi of _Responsible Gambler_ that if he just [puts in the work](https://rg.org/news/football/rachaad-white-embraces-pivotal-contract-year), good things will happen whether it’s for whoever he plays for in 2026.
> “I think my biggest thing is to attack every day,” says White in a one-on-one interview with RG when asked what his mindset is entering this season. “Show them who I am. At the end of the day, you can only control what you can control. You have to go out there and prove it every day.”
That word, “work,” is what impressed White when Irving showed up at One Buc Palace a year ago.
Despite the two fighting somewhat for the same position, the two bonded and are close friends.
> “How he came into work, I respected that out of the gate and I always talk to him,” says White of Irving. “We got a lot of good things going for one another. We’re really passionate, we care about one another.
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> “We’re just trying to win at the end of the day, and we’re both just trying to stay fresh and trying to stay healthy. That’s what we do very well at and understand that we both bring different aspects to the game.”
White says he and Irving refer to each other as “Bad Boys.” And, White said, he’s trying to get leaner this offseason.
Unless White blows up this fall — he’s still damn good catching the ball out of the backfield — Joe isn’t sure what sort of offer he’ll get from the Bucs to stick around.
The Bucs have big salaries to that will require coughing up huge Team Glazer loot. If Baker Mayfield has another strong season, he might be due for a contract extension. Then there is Luke Goedeke, Zyon McCollum and Logan Hall. And Cade Otton also is in a contract year. Yes, the Bucs seem to like Hall a lot more than fans. And what if Haason Reddick has a big year or Lavonte David wants another season?
In 2027, YaYa Diaby, Cody Mauch and Calijah Kancey will be holding their hand out wanting to be paid.
But let’s worry about this year first. Big expectations from the Bucs and that includes White.