Buccaneers' RB Duo Aims to Crack NFL's Top 5 in 2026

Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell form a promising backfield tandem for Tampa Bay.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 12:18am

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A cubist-style painting depicting fragmented, geometric shapes and planes representing the movements and actions of two football players, conceptually illustrating the contrasting yet complementary skills of the Buccaneers' running back duo.The Buccaneers' new running back duo of Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell could form one of the NFL's most dynamic backfield tandems in 2026.Today in Tampa

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are retooling their offense for 2026, with a focus on their running back duo of Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell. Irving, the team's lead back, brings efficiency and explosiveness, while Gainwell, a new addition from the Steelers, provides versatility as both a runner and receiver. Together, the contrasting yet complementary skill sets of this backfield pairing could elevate the Buccaneers' ground game and potentially develop into one of the NFL's top running back tandems.

Why it matters

The Buccaneers' success in 2026 will hinge heavily on their ability to establish a productive running game, and the Irving-Gainwell duo represents their best chance to do so. If they can develop into an elite backfield tandem, it would provide a significant boost to the team's overall offensive capabilities and help them compete in a tough NFC South division.

The details

In 2025, Irving played in only 10 games due to injury but still rushed for 588 yards and a touchdown, while also adding 277 receiving yards and two more scores. His 78% broken run percentage and 15% broken tackle rate have made him one of the top backs in the league. Gainwell, who was the top back for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, gained 537 yards on 114 rushing attempts and 486 yards on 73 receptions, with 5 rushing touchdowns and 3 receiving. While Gainwell's production was skewed towards the latter half of games due to the Steelers' 'wear them down' offense, Irving's was more consistent throughout the game, as the Buccaneers employ a more diverse scheme.

  • In 2025, Irving played in only 10 games due to injury.
  • In 2025, Gainwell was the top back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The players

Bucky Irving

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' lead running back, known for his efficiency and explosiveness, with a 78% broken run percentage and 15% broken tackle rate.

Kenneth Gainwell

A new addition to the Buccaneers' backfield, Gainwell is a versatile running back who can contribute both as a runner and receiver, as evidenced by his production with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025.

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What’s next

The Buccaneers will be closely monitoring the development of their new running back duo throughout the offseason and preseason, as they look to integrate Irving and Gainwell into their offensive game plan and see if they can emerge as one of the top backfield tandems in the NFL.

The takeaway

The Buccaneers' success in 2026 will hinge heavily on their ability to establish a productive running game, and the Irving-Gainwell duo represents their best chance to do so. If they can develop into an elite backfield tandem, it would provide a significant boost to the team's overall offensive capabilities and help them compete in a tough NFC South division.