Lavonte David
Getty
Lavonte David sees the Buccaneers coaching move as good timing.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have already endured the loss of 1 of their most legendary players this offseason — it’s time to get ready for another 1 to walk out the door.
Legendary Buccaneers inside linebacker Lavonte David is expected to announce his retirement at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon — ending a 14-year career in which he was a 3-time NFL All-Pro, Super Bowl champion and is 4th in NFL history with 1,172 career tackles.
“Bucs linebacker Lavonte David will have a news conference today at 2 pm at One Buc Place, the team announced,” Tampa Bay Times NFL reporter Rick Stroud wrote on his official X account on Tuesday. “Speculation is that he may retire after the team signed a second veteran inside linebacker Monday by reaching an agreement on a one year deal with Carolina free agent Christian Rozeboom.”
The Buccaneers signed 2 free agents who were starting inside linebackers for other teams last season with Rozeboom and former Detroit Lions standout Alex Anzalone.
“Bucs will have a press conference at 2 today involving linebacker Lavonte David,” Fox Sports NFL reporter Greg Auman wrote on his official X account. “No specifics but all signs point to him announcing his retirement after 14 seasons in Tampa.”
“He has spent all 14 years of his career in Tampa Bay and has said he’s only playing for the Bucs or retiring,” The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov wrote on his official X account.
The Buccaneers lost another franchise legend on March 9, when NFL All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans left for a 3-year, $42.4 million free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
“All members of the Bucs organization were notified yesterday about the scheduled press conference for today,” Bleacher Report’s James Palmer wrote on X. “It was all the talk in the building. It sure will feel different in Tampa Bay in 2026 without Mike Evans and Lavonte David.”