Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David retires at age 36

Lavonte David (Number 54) (Tennessee Titans, Wikimedia Commons)

According to the Associated Press on Tuesday, Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David of Miami, Florida has retired at the age of 36. David spent 14 seasons with the Buccaneers from 2012 to 2025.

David was on the Buccaneers team that won the Super Bowl in 2021. He had six solo tackles and two pass deflections as the Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9.

This past season, David had 114 combined tackles (61 solo tackles and 53 assisted tackles), eight tackles for a loss, six quarterback hits, one interception for three yards, three pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. The interception came in a 38-35 Buccaneers win over the Seattle Seahawks. The first fumble recovery came in a 23-3 Buccaneers win over the New Orleans Saints on October 26, and the second fumble recovery came in a 16-14 Buccaneers win over the Carolina Panthers on January 3.

In David’s career, he had 1716 combined tackles (1172 solo tackles and 544 assisted tackles), 177 tackles for a loss, 79 quarterback hits, one safety, 14 interceptions for 179 yards, two pick sixes, 73 pass deflections, 33 forced fumbles, 21 fumble recoveries for 86 yards, one fumble return for a touchdown and 42.5 sacks. The safety came in a 22-19 Buccaneers win over the Miami Dolphins on November 11, 2013. The first pick six was for 20 yards and came in a 45-17 Buccaneers win over the Philadelphia Eagles on November 22, 2015, and the second pick six was for 15 yards and came in a 28-21 Buccaneers win over the San Diego Chargers on December 4, 2016.

David was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2015. That year he had 147 combined tackles (85 solo tackles and 62 assisted tackles), 10 tackles for a loss, five quarterback hits, three interceptions for 19 yards and one pick six, 13 pass deflections, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three sacks.

In 2012, David was the Buccaneers’s second round pick, 58th overall, in the NFL Draft. He played his College Football at the University of Nebraska.