December 8, 2025
Tampa, FL – Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was baptized yesterday at Made New Church in Tampa prior to the team’s game against the New Orleans Saints. Surrounded by teammates, coaches, and the church congregation, Irving shared a powerful testimony of how a difficult season of shoulder and foot injuries that sidelined him for multiple weeks ultimately drew him closer to Jesus Christ.
“Football was taken away for a little bit, and that’s when I really leaned on God,” Irving told the congregation. “He pulled me through the toughest stretch of my life, and today I want to make it public: I’m giving my life to Christ.
”Moments after his baptism, Irving suited up and took the field at Raymond James Stadium, where he caught a 24-yard touchdown pass on a wheel route from quarterback Baker Mayfield in the first quarter of the Buccaneers’ contest against the Saints (final score 24-20).Made New Church and the John the Baptist Boulevard ministry celebrate Bucky’s decision to follow Jesus in believer’s baptism and give all glory to God for his physical healing and spiritual renewal.
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Relevant Scriptures Celebrated in This Baptism
Matthew 3:11 (ESV)
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Acts 2:38 (ESV)
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 6:3-4 (ESV)
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Mark 16:16 (ESV)
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Galatians 3:27 (ESV)
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Colossians 2:12 (ESV)
Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
1 Peter 3:21 (ESV)
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist Boulevard (johnthebaptistboulevard.com) exists to proclaim the biblical call to repentance and believer’s baptism as the first step of obedience for every new follower of Jesus Christ.
Media Contact:
John the Baptist Boulevard Ministry