Buccaneers star Lavonte David announces retirement from NFL after 14 seasons
Lavonte David spent all 14 of his NFL seasons with the Buccaneers.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David had big shoes to fill after the team made him its second-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. The Buccaneers were just a few seasons removed from losing Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks to retirement, and hadn’t really drafted a replacement for Brooks … until David came along. It’s safe to say that turned out to be a pretty good decision.
After 14 seasons in Tampa Bay — which included a Pro Bowl and an All-Pro selection — David is retiring from the NFL. The 36-year-old announced the news through the team Tuesday. Lavonte David Announces His Retirement Following Historic 14-Year Career A 12x team captain, David owns the @Buccaneers records for tackles for loss, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries, and is tied with Derrick Brooks for most tackles.
Press Release: https://t. co/4OKVGvxwsc pic. twitter.
com/9nBeWj6iTV — Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) March 24, 2026 Over his 14-year career, David emerged as one of the best linebackers in team history. He finished with 1,714 tackles, tying Brooks. He also produced 33 forced fumbles, 21 fumble recoveries and 177 tackles for loss over his career, more than any Bucs player.