Bucky Irving Earned Rachaad White’s Respect Almost Immediately
May 24th, 2025
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, 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.
“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, Mike Evans, 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.
May 24th, 2025 at 11:21 am
And Mike
May 24th, 2025 at 11:22 am
Great 3rd down running back. Keep him. He won’t cost a bundle and Bucky will need some relief.
May 24th, 2025 at 11:27 am
I bet. Bucky was the clear number one RB from day one.
White could be the Kamara in this offense. We’ll see what happens.
May 24th, 2025 at 11:27 am
The camaraderie between them should make a huge complement to our running game. I can’t wait to see them rock together.
May 24th, 2025 at 11:38 am
We will find out their camaraderie when it comes to resigning. I would think he wants to go somewhere he has the chance to be a #1.
May 24th, 2025 at 12:09 pm
I would love to see White come back. Super reliable all around good rb. You shouldn’t run one guy into the dirt. Only couple RBs can hold up to that like Henry and Barkley. The Lions have the right idea and we can hope to match that this year.
May 24th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
Too bad if you don’t spend all your cap money you can’t bank it until next season.
May 24th, 2025 at 12:25 pm
Hope Baker is willing to take a little less in 2027 like Brady was! We can afford 2 extra starters at the current cost. Be nice to keep some of that for the future. He’d make it up in endorsements. People really like him already.
May 24th, 2025 at 12:36 pm
white is good, just doesnt have the “vision” smaller running backs have( avoid, cause you cant power through) . he will be back. Baker, is not greedy, just wants to play. probally, like a 50 mill a year, extension. unless superbowl. reddick, defense add ons. we have a top 5 offense, just need a top 10 defense. AND, “think” we have the depth. both sides. i expect a 34 average, per game, offense. Defense, all hinges on reddick, showing out. think he will. 17 average opposing offence average
May 24th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
It’s downright criminal-level negligence that Sean Tucker is left of the conversation and relegated to 3rd-string and we’re talking a dynamic duo of Irving and White.
The dynamic duo is Buck & Tuck. White should be the 3rd wheel.
At minimum, we should be taking about our terrific trio. We don’t have a duo of RB’s, we have a trio.
Smdh.
May 24th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
Left *out of the conversation
May 24th, 2025 at 1:23 pm
Praying Baker takes a discount for the boys.
May 24th, 2025 at 1:37 pm
he never was that good.
May 24th, 2025 at 3:09 pm
The duvaaal doofus didn’t really utilize our backs as well as he could have @ the end of last season.
May 24th, 2025 at 4:23 pm
Griz said he wants to use Tucker more this season, I hope so. Also said he’d go with the hot hand but we’ve heard that before.