Bucs looking to utilize a smaller backfield in 2026

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may not have the biggest backfield in the NFL heading into 2026, but they could have one of the quickest and most versatile. With Bucky Irving expected to take the next step as the Buccaneers' primary back after an injury-shortened 2025 season and veteran addition Kenneth Gainwell now in the mix, the Buccaneers appear comfortable building around a smaller, shiftier one-two punch rather than relying on a traditional power back.

Irving stands at 5-foot-10 and roughly 195 pounds, while Gainwell checks in around 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds. Compared to some of the league’s bigger feature backs, Tampa Bay’s primary duo lacks overwhelming size. But what they may lack in mass, they make up for with explosiveness, versatility, and playmaking ability in space.

Irving quickly became a fan favorite during his rookie season for his vision and quickness. His ability to make defenders miss in tight areas gave the Buccaneers offense an element of unpredictability it had been missing at times in previous years. Despite not being the biggest runner, Irving consistently played tougher than his frame suggested, showing impressive contact balance and creativity between the tackles. The Buccaneers also increasingly trusted him as a receiving option out of the backfield, something that could become an even larger part of the offense moving forward.

In Gainwell, the former Eagles and Steelers running back has quietly built a reputation as one of the more dependable rotational backs in football, including being named the Steelers team "MVP" in 2025. Gainwell brings strong pass-catching ability, third-down value, and reliable pass protection while also offering legitimate speed in open space. His experience in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh's rotation-heavy offense may fit naturally in Tampa Bay, where offensive coordinator Zac Robinson could look to utilize multiple backs interchangeably depending on the situation and matchup.

Both can catch passes. Both can operate in space. Both have enough burst to create explosive plays without needing a perfectly blocked run design. And perhaps most importantly in today’s NFL, both can stress defenses horizontally as receivers and runners. The obvious concern, of course, is size and durability under a full-season workload. Neither is the classic 215-plus-pound workhorse capable of absorbing 25 carries weekly.