LB David retires as one of Bucs' all-time greats

What’s Happening

Breaking it down: Linebacker Lavonte David just dropped his retirement Tuesday after a 14-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which he was a 12-time captain and has led the league in tackles since he entered the NFL.

Buccaneers LB Lavonte David, 12-time captain, retires from NFL play Lavonte David makes a crucial pick for Bucs (0:33) Lavonte David secures a possession for the Buccaneers with an interception late in the fourth quarter. (0:33) Jenna Laine Mar 24, 2026, 01:36 PM ET Close Jenna Laine covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for ESPN. (shocking, we know)

She kicked off covering the Bucs for ESPN in 2016, but she has covered the team since 2009.

The Details

Jenna is a former cheerleader at the University of South Florida and speaks to the consistency of the program as being one of the top best in the nation. Follow on X Multiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions TAMPA, Fla.

— Buccaneers inside linebacker Lavonte David — a 12-time captain, key member of their Super Bowl LV-winning team in 2020 and the longest-tenured player on the Bucs’ current roster — is retiring after 14 seasons. David, who turned 36 in January, will discuss his decision Tuesday at a news conference at the AdventHealth Training Center auditorium.

Why This Matters

Since entering the league in 2012, David has ranked first in solo tackles (1,171) while his 177 tackles for a loss ranks second. He was selected to the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade team. He is one of just three players to record 40-plus sacks and 35-plus takeaways, along with Pro Football Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher.

Players and coaches will be watching how this unfolds closely.

The Bottom Line

He is also one of just four players in league history to record 40 career sacks, 30 forced fumbles and 10 interceptions, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Julius Peppers, Mo Lewis and Greg Lloyd. Lavonte David just dropped his retirement Tuesday, ending a career that puts him at or near the top of many defensive categories in Buccaneers franchise history.

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