Can the Buccaneers’ RB Tandem Crack the NFL’s Top Five in 2026?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a bit of a retooling heading into 2026. With a new offensive coordinator and a new look running back corp featuring Bucky Irving, Sean Tucker and newly signed Kenneth Gainwell, the Pewter Pirates might have the best tandem of ball carriers in the league.

Bucky Irving:

In 2025, Irving played in only ten games due to injury, and yet he rushed for 588 yards and a TD, along with that he also added 277 receiving yards and two more TDs.

Irving’s 78% broken run percentage and 15% broken tackle rate has made him the lead back for the Buccaneers and one of the top backs in the league.

Kenneth Gainwell:

In 2025 Gainwell was the top back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Gainwell gained 537 yards on 114 rushing attempts and 486 yards on 73 receptions; he had 5 rushing TDs and 3 receiving,

While Gainwell’s gains were in the latter half of games due to the Steelers’ wear them down offense. Irvings were throughout the game since the Buccaneers play a more diverse offense.

You couldn’t ask for more differing types of schemes to find a comparable player to fit the Buccaneers scheme. But here they are, and on paper it is a match made by the football gods themselves.

Both of them alone are great players, but together can they be “Elite” enough to break into the top five best duo’s?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive retooling for 2026 centers around a promising running back duo in Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell, whose contrasting yet complementary skill sets could elevate the ground game. With Irving’s efficiency and explosiveness paired with Gainwell’s versatility as both a runner and receiver, the Buccaneers have the foundation for a highly productive backfield—one that has the potential to develop into one of the NFL’s top running back tandems.