Bucky Irving

Bucky Irving was born April 19, 2003, in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in the Chicago area before his family relocated to Minnesota during his high school years. His upbringing in multiple Midwestern football cultures shaped his development, and his family's emphasis on athletics has remained central to his identity.

Irving attended North High School in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he was a productive but relatively under-recruited running back. He signed with Minnesota and spent a season with the Golden Gophers before transferring to Oregon, where his combination of speed, receiving ability, and slashing runs produced one of the more productive careers of a Ducks running back in recent memory.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Irving in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, pick 125 overall. He stepped into the Tampa Bay backfield during his rookie season and quickly emerged as the most productive back on the roster, earning praise from head coach Todd Bowles and offensive coordinator Liam Coen for his vision and receiving ability.

Irving's rookie season produced strong production that immediately exceeded his mid-round draft status. His combination of small stature and reliable production — he's listed at just 5'9" and 194 pounds — has made him one of the more unique featured backs in the NFL.

His career résumé is still in its earliest chapter, but his rookie production has placed him among the most efficient young running backs of his draft class. He was on pace for 1,000-plus rushing yards and 60-plus receptions — a rare dual-production rookie season for a fourth-round pick.

Off the field, Irving has maintained a quiet public profile, focused on development rather than celebrity. He has supported youth football initiatives in his native Chicago area and the Tampa market, and he maintains endorsement partnerships with Nike and other brands typical of a rising young star. His combination of college production at Oregon and immediate NFL impact has made him one of the more impressive draft-value stories of his rookie class.