NFL news: Buccaneers legend Lavonte David announces retirement after 14 seasons
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Lavonte David announced his retirement at a press conference on Tuesday.
David, 36, spent 14 seasons with the Buccaneers and was the team’s longest-tenured player, including being a key member of the Super Bowl-winning team. He served as captain for 12 seasons.
“I just want to start by saying, man, ‘God is amazing.’ I never thought I would be in this situation after 14 years of football until now. I never thought I’d be here,” David said.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on December 28, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File)
Since entering the NFL in 2012, David has led the league in solo tackles (1,171) and has the second-most tackles for tackles (177) during that span. He is one of only three players to record 40+ sacks and 35+ takeaways in his career. Pro Football Hall of Fame members Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher are the other two.
David said he plays football “for fun and for the love of it.” He described his career as a journey.
“Every time I stepped on the field I wanted to prove myself right and all the doubters wrong.”
David became emotional as he talked about his late parents and the sacrifices they made for him.
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FILE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) with his family before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on October 26, 2025 in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall, File)
“It’s not easy growing up where I grew up. It’s not easy, but they found a way for me and it’s not until you get older and you have kids of your own that you realize the sacrifices they made for you, the sacrifices they made for you,” a tearful David said.
“I just think about my dad and the sacrifices he made. He was never the breadwinner in our family, but for some reason he and my mom worked things out and their relationship lasted so long. Seeing how compatible they were with each other and how they made our lives easier. We had a car, my mom would drive to work and my dad would take me to train on the handlebars on my bike. Sometimes we’d walk and as a kid you’d be like: ‘Dang man, that walk was a long walk.’ You realize that there is a sacrifice you must make to help your sons, your children’s dreams come true. And they did it.”
When David’s mother passed away in 2016, he said he didn’t care about football anymore because he wanted to help David achieve his dreams after he achieved them.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy during celebration of the team’s Super Bowl LV victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on February 10, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
David’s father passed away shortly after the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl in 2021.
David tied Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks’ franchise record of 1,714 tackles in his final regular season game. He has the third most plate appearances in Buccaneers history, behind Brooks (224) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Rondé Barber (241).
The Buccaneers selected David with a second-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Nebraska. He made the Pro Bowl once in his career, was named to the All-Pro first team once and to the All-Pro second team twice.
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