Everyone knows that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers did not come close to fulfilling their potential in the 2025 NFL regular season.
After making the playoffs in 2024 but going one and done against a more in command Jayden Daniels, the Buccaneers did not even make the postseason last year after collapsing in the second half of the season, losing several division rivalry games and inexpicably coming second in the NFC South behind the rival Carolina Panthers and their entirely underwhelming roster.
The Buccaneers were being talked about as a Super Bowl contender in the first half of the 2025 season, but they were horrible in the second half as injuries took a hold. And no injury was more pivotal to the Buccaneers chances than the one to Bucky Irving.
One of the unsung heroes of the Bucs when they made the playoffs in 2024 with over 1,100 rushing yards, nearly 10 rushing touchdowns, and well over five yards per carry, Irving was an efficient slasher in the ground game who could reel off chunks of yardage and bruise teams down the middle. Without him, the Bucs could not win and were one dimensional, with no ability to draw defenders in and take off the top of defenses.
Bucky Irving is the X-Factor for Buccaneers in 2026
The Buccaneers have vastly upgraded their offensive coordinator situation by firing Josh Grizzard and hiring the more experienced Zac Robinson, who is a considerably better play caller - and proved it in prime time for the Atlanta Falcons last season by beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Robinson's biggest task is to get the most out of the Buccaneers offense and help Baker Mayfield play at close to an MVP level for a full 17-game season. And he will have to do all that without the franchise's best ever offensive player (well, besides Tom Brady) in Mike Evans.
There is optimism he can do just that, but unlocking Mayfield begins with unleashing Bucky Irving. Not only do the Bucs need the young running back to be healthy in 2026, but they also need to give him the rock between the tackles, off the tackle, and on the pitch; they need to trust in him as their feature back.
Kenny Gainwell is a massive addition to the Buccaneers offense, particularly as a weapon in the passing game after showing up well catching passes from finished Aaron Rodgers in 2025, but he is an assistant to Irving. This is Irving's show, and the Bucs need a major contribution out of him to be a truly elite offense in 2026.
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