Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David. Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Buccaneers legend Lavonte David announces retirement

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Mar 24, 2026 3:08 PM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without another familiar face moving forward, as longtime linebacker Lavonte David announced his retirement on Tuesday.

David, 36, who first joined the Buccaneers in 2012 after being drafted in the second round, was the longest tenured player in the organization. His retirement comes weeks after his teammate throughout most of his career, Mike Evans, moved on and signed with the San Francisco 49ers.

An emotional David spoke about the end of his playing career in a press conference streamed by the Buccaneers on social media.

Lavonte David wants to focus on raising his daughter

"My 14-year career has come to an end and I feel it's time to move on and find a different path in life, mainly being a dad to that amazing little girl over there."

Lavonte, thank you for 14 incredible years pic.twitter.com/49bbGDpZ69
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) March 24, 2026

Initially faced with high expectations to take over for Pro Football Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks, David enjoyed immediate success after a stellar college career with Nebraska.

He exceeded 100 solo tackles in each of his first three seasons, finishing in the top five for the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and then being named a first-team All-Pro in 2013. His single-season high for combined tackles came when he recorded 146 in 2015, leading to his lone Pro Bowl honor.

Lavonte David has a case a worthy of Pro Football Hall of Fame

Overall, David made 1,716 tackles throughout his 14-year career, with 1,172 of them being credited as solo tackles. He deflected 73 passes, forced 33 fumbles, recovered 21 fumbles and intercepted 14 passes.

Forever a Buccaneer ‍☠️

Congratulations on retirement, Lavonte. pic.twitter.com/8ET8CPdeRd
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) March 24, 2026

David played in 10 playoff games, totaling 79 tackles and being a key part of Tampa Bay's LV Super Bowl championship team following the 2020 season.

A 12-time team captain, David will go down as one of the most accomplished players in franchise history. He owns Buccaneer records for tackles for a loss, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries, and is tied with Brooks for most total tackles.

While Tampa Bay can claim to be David's only professional football home, the true final stop of his career will be Canton, Ohio when he's likely eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame himself.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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