Bucs' RB Wants to Match Saquon Barkley's Historic Production in 2025 NFL Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Orlando Silva | Last updated May 8, 2025 2:23 PM ET

Saquon Barkley appears to have inspired fellow NFL running backs to demand more respect and money from their respective teams and strive for greatness.

The Philadelphia Eagles star is coming off a remarkable campaign in which he won his first Super Bowl, but also became the ninth player in league history to run for at least 2,000 rushing yards.

Barkley has given the blueprint to succeed to the rest of the players in his position and even other franchises.

Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders believes that Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, one of the best running back tandems in the league, can play a key role in the team's potential Super Bowl win.

More than that, Barkley has made other players set ambitious personal goals after watching was he was capable of doing behind that Eagles' offensive line.

During a Thursday conversation with Kay Adams on her "Up & Adams" show, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was asked if he aspired to emulate Barkley and go for at least 2,000 rushing yards in the 2025 NFL season.

"Yeah, that feel a little alright," Irving said. "I don't really clock that and think like, 'Oh, I have to get a certain amount of yards. I gotta do this this season.' I put it as live in the moment. Whatever I gotta do to help my team come out with a win, I'm happy as long as we got the win."

Irving is coming off a solid 2024 season in which he carried the ball 207 times and racked up 1,122 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He's just starting his career and the foreseeable future is bright.

He should be able to increase those numbers even more with Rashaad White mentoring him. The Buccaneers carry high expectations ahead of Baker Mayfield's third season with the team and Irving's contribution could help them beat the competition in the NFC South.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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