Bucky Irving, whose full name is Mar’Keise Irving, is the son of LaTisha Irving and the late Marcellus Irving. His father died when Bucky was two years old, and his mother helped raise him and his siblings with support from their wider family, including his grandmother Darlene. Marcellus gave his son the nickname “Bucky,” while the family’s experiences with loss and support became an important part of the NFL running back’s personal story. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have documented how the deaths of his father, grandmother and younger brother affected him and how he chose to use adversity as motivation.

Introduction: Who Are Bucky Irving’s Parents?

Bucky Irving’s parents are LaTisha Irving and Marcellus Irving, and their story is an important part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back’s journey from Chicago to the NFL. Marcellus died when his son was just two years old, leaving LaTisha to help raise Bucky and his siblings. Although Bucky was too young to develop lasting memories of his father, he has carried a connection to him through the nickname Marcellus gave him: “Bucky.”

The family’s story involves more than the loss of a parent. Bucky also experienced the deaths of his grandmother, Darlene Irving, and his younger brother, Jordan “JoJo” Raybon. In a feature published on September 6, 2025, the Buccaneers explored how these experiences influenced his outlook on life, his work ethic and his approach to football.

Irving, born Mar’Keise Irving, developed into a standout college running back at the University of Oregon after beginning his college career at the University of Minnesota. Tampa Bay selected him with the 125th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. His rise has made fans increasingly interested in the family behind the player, particularly his mother’s role and the legacy of his late father.

Who Is LaTisha Irving, Bucky Irving’s Mother?

LaTisha Irving is Bucky’s mother and a central figure in his family story. After Marcellus died when Bucky was two, she helped raise her children while navigating the challenges of family life without their father.

Publicly available information about LaTisha is more limited than the information about her son’s football career. The Buccaneers’ own feature on Irving, however, describes the close role of his family and recounts how his mother informed him of his younger brother’s death in 2022. That account illustrates how she remained a key person in his life through difficult experiences.

LaTisha’s role in Bucky’s childhood

Bucky grew up on Chicago’s South Side in a large family household. The Buccaneers reported that as many as 13 relatives, including aunts, uncles and cousins, lived together. This wider family environment was important to his upbringing, with relatives helping introduce him to football and encouraging his interest in the sport.

His uncle Jeff Irving played a particularly visible role in his early development. According to the Buccaneers’ feature, Jeff helped him join a local youth football team after seeing how determined the young Bucky was to play. The family’s involvement gave him opportunities to practise and compete from an early age.

It would be inaccurate to credit one person alone for his success. The available reporting points to a combination of family support, his own persistence and the influence of coaches and teammates. LaTisha’s place in that story is especially significant because she was his surviving parent after Marcellus’s death.

A mother connected to his football journey

Bucky’s football ambitions began well before he became a professional athlete. He watched older relatives play, asked repeatedly to join in and developed a strong interest in training. The Buccaneers’ account describes him practising independently and taking his goal of reaching the NFL seriously from a young age.

Those details help explain why his family story is often discussed alongside his athletic career. His determination was not simply a reaction to tragedy; it also grew out of a sustained love of football and the encouragement he received from relatives.

LaTisha’s private life, occupation and personal background have not been comprehensively documented in authoritative public sources. Details beyond the available reporting should therefore be treated cautiously rather than repeated as established facts.

Who Was Marcellus Irving, Bucky’s Father?

Marcellus Irving was Bucky’s father. He died when Bucky was two years old, according to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ official feature story. Because Bucky was so young at the time, he has said that he did not have the opportunity to know his father in the way an older child might.

Despite that absence, Marcellus remains part of Bucky’s identity. The Buccaneers’ official player biography confirms that his late father gave him the nickname “Bucky.” The nickname stayed with him as he progressed through youth football, high school, college and the NFL.

Why is Bucky Irving called “Bucky”?

Bucky’s full name is Mar’Keise Irving, but he is widely known by his nickname. The Buccaneers’ official roster biography directly attributes the nickname to his father, Marcellus.

The nickname is more than a familiar label in the family’s story. It is a lasting connection to a parent Bucky lost before he was old enough to remember him clearly. Although public accounts do not establish every detail of the father-son relationship, the origin of the nickname is confirmed by the team.

What is known about Marcellus’s death?

The Buccaneers report that Marcellus died when Bucky was two. Beyond that central fact, publicly available official sources provide limited detail about the circumstances of his death. It is therefore best not to speculate about the cause or add unverified claims.

What is clear is that his death shaped the family’s circumstances and meant that Bucky grew up without his father. The nickname Marcellus left behind became one enduring part of his connection to him.

Bucky Irving’s Family: His Siblings and Grandmother

Bucky’s story also includes the relatives who helped shape his childhood and the losses he experienced as he grew older. His grandmother, Darlene Irving, was an especially important figure. The Buccaneers’ 2025 feature describes her as a constant source of care and support for the family.

The team’s official player profile lists Bucky as having two siblings, a brother and a sister. Its feature story also describes the devastating death of his younger brother, Jordan “JoJo” Raybon, in March 2022.

The influence of grandmother Darlene Irving

Darlene helped care for Bucky and other family members. In the Buccaneers’ account, Irving recalled that his grandmother provided for the family and made sure they had what they needed. He described her as someone who was always there for him.

Darlene worked as a nurse, according to the team’s feature, and was known in the family for her generosity and care. Her influence extended beyond daily life: she encouraged Bucky to keep working toward his dream of playing in the NFL.

The same feature reports that the University of Minnesota offered Bucky a scholarship on May 9, 2019, the day Darlene died. Irving recalled being at the hospital when he received the offer and said the presence of a Minnesota coach during that difficult time contributed to his decision to attend the university.

That timing became a memorable part of his college journey. Bucky later committed to Minnesota, where he began his NCAA career in 2021.

The death of his younger brother, Jordan “JoJo” Raybon

Another major loss came on March 17, 2022. The Buccaneers reported that Bucky learned from his mother, LaTisha, that his younger brother Jordan “JoJo” Raybon had been shot and killed in Hazel Crest, Illinois. He was 15.

The loss came while Bucky was playing college football at Minnesota. The team’s feature describes the brothers as close and recalls their shared football games, video games and regular conversations.

In the same account, Irving reflected on the difficulty of dealing with the deaths of his grandmother and brother in a relatively short period. He said that some people might shut down after such experiences, while others use them as motivation, adding that he chose the latter path.

That statement is a direct reflection of his own experience, not a claim that grief affects everyone in the same way. His story shows how he personally tried to keep moving forward while carrying the memory of people he loved.

How Family Loss Shaped Bucky Irving’s Football Journey

Bucky’s path to the NFL was built through several stages of development, from youth football in Illinois to major college programmes and professional competition. Family support and personal loss form part of that history, but they do not tell the whole story of his success.

From Chicago to Hillcrest High School

Irving attended Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills, Illinois, after beginning high school at Morgan Park. He established himself as an effective running back and also played basketball.

The Buccaneers’ official feature reports that he finished his Hillcrest football career with 3,264 rushing yards. His high school achievements helped attract college interest, even though his size prompted some doubts about his prospects at the next level.

His commitment to football was evident early. According to the team’s account, he spent time studying older players, worked to improve his skills and repeatedly pursued his goal of reaching the NFL despite hearing that he might be too small to succeed.

His college years at Minnesota and Oregon

Bucky played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2021 before transferring to the Oregon Ducks. As a freshman at Minnesota, he rushed for 699 yards and four touchdowns, according to the Buccaneers’ player biography.

At Oregon, he became a more productive and versatile offensive player. In 2023, he rushed for 1,180 yards and 11 touchdowns, while recording 56 receptions for 413 receiving yards. He received second-team All-Pac-12 recognition, and his ability to contribute as both a runner and receiver helped strengthen his NFL prospects.

The transfer also followed a difficult personal period. The Buccaneers reported that Irving entered the transfer portal in April 2022, about a month after his brother’s death, and announced his move to Oregon the following month. His football development continued as he adjusted to a new programme and worked through his grief.

Entering the NFL with Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Irving at No. 125 overall in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. His rookie season established him as an important part of the team’s offence.

According to the Buccaneers’ September 2025 feature, Irving recorded 1,122 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns and 392 receiving yards in 2024. He earned a place on the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.

Those numbers demonstrate the football ability behind his rise. His vision, quick changes of direction and capacity to make defenders miss have helped him become a productive running back. His personal history provides context for his determination, but his on-field results also reflect preparation, skill and the opportunities he earned.

What Have the Buccaneers Said About Bucky Irving’s Family Story?

The most detailed public account comes from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers themselves. On September 6, 2025, the team published a feature titled “Bucky Irving, Fueled by Tragedy, Pushes Forward One Missed Tackle at a Time.” It combines an account of his football development with his own reflections on losing his father, grandmother and younger brother.

The article includes recollections from Irving and comments from people who worked with him or knew him growing up. It describes his family’s role, his early determination to play football, his development at Hillcrest and his progress through college to the NFL.

The team’s official roster biography separately confirms his full name, position, college background, siblings and the origin of his nickname. These sources are useful because they distinguish verified biographical information from speculation about his private life.

The Buccaneers’ coverage does not mean every personal detail about the Irving family is publicly known. LaTisha has not been the subject of a comprehensive official biography, and some details repeated on entertainment and sports biography sites are not supported by the same level of primary documentation.

For that reason, the clearest account sticks to information supported by the player and his team: Marcellus died when Bucky was two; Marcellus gave him the nickname “Bucky”; LaTisha has remained an important family figure; and Bucky has spoken about the effect of losing his grandmother and younger brother.

Why Bucky Irving’s Family Story Matters

The story behind Bucky Irving’s parents helps fans understand the person behind the uniform. His rise was not a simple, uninterrupted journey from a promising young athlete to a professional player. He faced bereavement at an early age and experienced further losses during his college years.

His father’s death meant that he grew up without the opportunity to know Marcellus as an older child. Yet his father’s nickname remained with him as his career advanced. His mother, grandmother, siblings and wider family also feature prominently in the story of his upbringing.

There is an important distinction between recognising these experiences and reducing an athlete to them. Bucky’s achievements are not solely the product of hardship. His football intelligence, training habits, adaptability and performances at Minnesota and Oregon all contributed to his selection by Tampa Bay.

His story is meaningful because it brings these elements together: family ties, personal grief, support from relatives and a long-standing commitment to football. It also shows why the people around an athlete can remain important even after that athlete reaches the highest level of professional sport.

What Happens Next for Bucky Irving and His Family Story?

Bucky Irving remains associated with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the team’s official roster page provides the latest available information about his professional status and performance. His career will continue to be assessed through his contributions on the field, his health, his role in the offence and the team’s results.

There is no confirmed announcement of a new family-related development in the sources used for this article. The focus here is therefore on the established story of his parents and family, rather than presenting the background as breaking news.

As Irving’s career progresses, more interviews or official team features may offer additional insight into his family relationships. Until then, readers should distinguish his confirmed public statements from unsupported claims about relatives’ private lives.

The central facts remain straightforward: LaTisha Irving is his mother, Marcellus Irving was his father, and Marcellus gave him the nickname by which NFL fans know him. Bucky has continued to honour the people who shaped his life while building his own career as a professional running back.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who are Bucky Irving’s parents?

Bucky Irving’s parents are LaTisha Irving and the late Marcellus Irving. His father died when Bucky was two years old, while his mother helped raise him and his siblings.

2. Is Bucky Irving’s father still alive?

No. Marcellus Irving died when Bucky was two years old, according to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ official feature story.

3. Why is Bucky Irving called Bucky?

His father, Marcellus Irving, gave him the nickname “Bucky.” The Tampa Bay Buccaneers confirm this detail in the running back’s official player biography.

4. What is Bucky Irving’s real name?

His full name is Mar’Keise Irving. He is professionally known as Bucky Irving and plays running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

5. Who raised Bucky Irving after his father died?

His mother, LaTisha Irving, helped raise him and his siblings. His grandmother, Darlene Irving, and other relatives also played important roles in his upbringing.

6. How many siblings does Bucky Irving have?

The Buccaneers’ official player biography says he has two siblings: one brother and one sister. His younger brother Jordan “JoJo” Raybon died in March 2022.

7. Who was Darlene Irving?

Darlene Irving was Bucky’s grandmother and an important source of support during his childhood. The Buccaneers reported that she helped provide for the family, worked as a nurse and encouraged him to pursue his NFL dream. She died in May 2019.

8. Which NFL team drafted Bucky Irving?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Bucky Irving with the 125th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Before turning professional, he played college football for Minnesota and Oregon.