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Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Lavonte David announced his retirement Tuesday during a press conference.
David, 36, spent 14 seasons with the Buccaneers and was the team’s longest-tenured player, including being a key member of their Super Bowl-winning squad. He spent 12 seasons as captain.
“I just want to start by saying, man, ‘God is amazing.’ 14 years of football, to get to this moment, I never thought I would find myself in this situation. I never thought I would be here,” David said.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Florida on December 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, file)
Since David entered the NFL in 2012, he leads the league in solo tackles (1,171) while having the second-most tackles for loss (177) during that span. He is one of three players to record 40+ sacks and 35+ takeaways in his career. Pro Football Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher are the other two.
David said he plays football for “fun, for love”. He called his career a journey.
“Every time I stepped onto the field, I wanted to prove that I was right and all my doubters were wrong.”
David became emotional while talking 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, October 26, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall, file)
“Growing up where I grew up, it’s not easy. It’s not easy but they found a way for me and you don’t understand that until you get older and you have your own kids, the sacrifices they made for you. The things they did for you,” David said through tears.
“It’s just me thinking about my dad, the sacrifices he made. He was never the breadwinner of our family, but for some reason he and my mom made it work and their relationship lasted so long. And when we saw how compatible they were with each other and how they made our lives easier. We had a car, my mom would take the car to work and my dad would take me to practice on his handlebars on bikes. We would walk sometimes, and when I was a kid you would say, “Gee, that walk was a long walk. You realize it’s a sacrifice you have to make to help your sons, the kids’ dreams come true.”
When David’s mother died in 2016, he said he no longer cared about football because he wanted to help her achieve her dreams after she achieved her dreams.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy during a celebration of the team’s Super Bowl LV victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa, Florida on February 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, file)
David’s father died shortly after the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl in 2021.
David tied Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks’ franchise tackle record of 1,714 in his final regular season game. He played in the third most games in Buccaneers history behind Brooks (224) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Rondé Barber (241).
The Buccaneers selected David with their second-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Nebraska. He made the Pro Bowl once in his career, was named first-team All-Pro once and second-team All-Pro twice.
