Longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David announced his retirement from the NFL just days after his former teammate, Tom Brady, returned to the gridiron
20:21 ET, 24 Mar 2026
Tom Brady and Lavonte David talk on the sideline
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Tom Brady and Lavonte David won a Super Bowl together on the Buccaneers back in 2021(Image: Getty Images)
A beloved ex-teammate of Tom Brady has finally decided to hang up the cleats following a dominant run in the NFL.
Just days after Brady proved he still has plenty left in the tank while starring in this weekend’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic, Lavonte David announced his retirement during an emotional press conference at the AdventHealth Training Center auditorium. The standout linebacker spent the entirety of his 14-year NFL career with the Buccaneers, and helped lead Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl victory over the Chiefs in 2021.
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"I feel it's time to move on and find a different path in life, be a dad to that amazing little girl over there," David told reporters. "Having a girl helped me become a man, helped me understand what's important in life."
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Upon being selected by the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, David wasted little time making his presence felt at the professional level. The Nebraska product was named an Associated Press first-team All-Pro in just his second season, during which he amassed 145 tackles, five interceptions, sacks sacks, 21 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
The ensuing year, David was voted a team captain by his colleagues — an honor he held for 12 consecutive campaigns. In all-but one of the last seven seasons, the 36-year-old additionally served as the Buccaneers’ nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
Once the dust had finally settled on David’s incredible tenure in Tampa Bay, he finished with 1,714 tackles, 1,172 solo tackles, 42.5 sacks, 177 tackles for loss, 14 interceptions, 73 passes defensed, 33 forced fumbles, 21 fumble recoveries and three defensive touchdowns.
"For the past 14 seasons, Lavonte David has personified what it means to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer,” The Glazer Family — who own the Buccaneers — wrote in a heartfelt statement. “He was a selfless leader both on and off the field, playing with passion and a genuine love for the game.
Lavonte David walks off the field
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Lavonte David announced his retirement following a 14-year NFL career spent entirely with the Buccaneers(Image: Getty Images)
“He leaves a legacy as a Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest players in franchise history, setting a standard that will continue to impact our organization for years to come.”
Though David achieved no shortage of individual success during the early stages of his career, he needed a boost from Brady to reach the NFL mountaintop.
As teammates, the pair propelled the Buccaneers to a blowout win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, putting up 31 versus Kansas City’s stout defense while limiting Patrick Mahomes and company to just nine points.
Shortly after Brady put pen to paper on his two-year, $50 million contract with the Buccaneers in March 2020, David received a reassuring phone call from the legendary quarterback.
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“He told me, ‘Hey man, I’m coming to your guys’ locker room. You guys don’t treat me no different, allow me to earn my respect from you guys,'” David recalled.
Given Brady's status in the league, his down-to-earth demeanor caught David somewhat off-guard. “And when he said that, I was like, ‘What? Like, bro, whatever you want in this locker room, you can have it bro, it’s yours,'" he added.
"'This is your locker room now, what are you talking about?’ Once he said that, it kind of changed my whole perception of Tom, man. Still to this day, man, great dude.”