Todd Bowles Gave Bucky Irving A History Lesson
November 4th, 2026
Bucky Irving was dominant again on Sunday but made one major mistake.
His head coach talked to him all about it.
Todd Bowles had happiness in his voice during his weekly Buccaneers Coaches Show. (Joe listens on the SiriusXM app.)
Even while talking about one of the game’s standout blunders, Bowles had a feel-good tone in his voice. It’s amazing what a “W” does for the sould.
When Bucky Irving needlessly fumbled out the end zone from the field of play, it cost the Bucs an early 10-0 lead and seemed to give the Falcons life.
It was a sloppy mistake (video below). Irving basically put the ball on a silver platter for Falcons Pro Bowl safety Jesse Bates to knock away.
“Bucky’s pretty hard on himself,” Bowles said. “You know, he took it to heart and he took ownership of it. But you gotta forget about it and go on to the next play.
“But it showed his maturity, the way he came back and took care of the ball and started making some tough runs and tucking the ball away. And, you know, we talked this morning even talking about [the fumble]. I told him, ‘I’ve never seen any of the greats take the ball away from their body and hold it with two hands out there on the goal line. Not Jim Brown, not Barry Sanders, not Eric Dickerson, not Emmitt Smith.’
“And he just looked at me. ‘You’re right. You’re right, Coach. You’re right.’ But it, it’s a good lesson for him to learn and I think that’ll help him the rest of the year.”
Jessie Bates is pretty, pretty, pretty good at punching the football https://t.co/R9byX4Vpvy
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) November 2, 2026
November 4th, 2026 at 10:10 am
That fumble still hurts even though we won. It would have been a highlight reel play due to how it started. And the score would have more clearly reflected the total domination that occurred. And Bucky’s stats would have been better padded for his Pro Bowl consideration. Oh well.
November 4th, 2026 at 10:13 am
Seems to be something he’s done through his career – college and pro – like sticking your head out at the finish line in a race. He needs to stop that and said so at his presser.
Bucky runs hard and plays with passion. Dude jukes people out of their shoes. Love it – keep pounding the rock until someone stops it.
November 4th, 2026 at 10:51 am
LET HIM FUMBLE 1x
The Bucs should let Bucky fumble it one time, out of bounds, at the opponents end (preferrable not in the end zone) … if it means he’s going to get 170 yards.
Great game Bucky!
WHAT ABOUT 3 FUMBLES?
What did Baker and Bowles say about fumbling Baker fumbling 3x?
He fumbles more than any QB?
He had as many fumbles as pass attempts?
We are blasting Bucky and not Baker because … why?
November 4th, 2026 at 11:29 am
The fumble also robbed the player most responsible for that TD…er almost TD.
Bucky was great but he didn’t really need to be on that particular play.
It was Baker who saved the play in his usual swashbuckling style and always looking for opportunity before giving up on a play, alertly lateralled the ball back to Bucky for an “almost TD”.
November 4th, 2026 at 11:33 am
Hubris leading to a teachable moment. Bucky will be fine. I admit I was surprised that Tucker didn’t get an opportunity, given the conditions.