Tampa Bay Buccaneers great Lavonte David has retired from the NFL after 14 seasons with the team.
The Pro Bowl linebacker, who was a member of the Super Bowl-winning side spearheaded by Tom Brady in 2020, racked up 225 appearances over the course of his lengthy stint in Tampa.
David, 36, set franchise records for tackles for loss (177), forced fumbles (33) and fumble recoveries (21) during that time, while he also ranks first in solo tackles (1,171) since entering the NFL in 2012.
At the end of his 14th and final year, the Bucs announced their legendary player’s retirement in a heartfelt statement on Tuesday.
‘For the past 14 seasons, Lavonte David has personified what it means to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer,’ the Glazer family, which has owned the team since 1995, said in the statement.
‘He was a selfless leader both on and off the field, playing with passion and a genuine love for the game.
Buccaneers great Lavonte David has retired from the NFL after 14 seasons with the team
‘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.’
David is reportedly set to explain his decision at a news conference on Tuesday.
The former Nebraska college star was selected by Tampa Bay with the 58th overall pick in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
He immediately became a key member of the Bucs defense, yet it took him nine seasons to reach the postseason with the team.
When he finally got there, David claimed his first and only championship ring at the first time of asking when they got the better of the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LV in their own stadium.
After that historic night in Tampa, he and the Bucs clinched four consecutive NFC South titles from 2021-24.
As well as his record-breaking forced fumbles, fumble recoveries and tackles for loss, David had 41.5 sacks and 14 interceptions in his career. He is one of just four players in NFL history to record 40 career sacks, 30 forced fumbles and 10 interceptions.
The Miami-born defender is also one of three players to record over 40 sacks and 35 takeaways, along with Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher.
‘Today, we celebrate Lavonte’s legendary career as one of the most accomplished players of his era and thank him for the many memorable moments he provided our fans,’ the Glazer family’s statement continued.
‘Beyond the statistics and accolades, he will be remembered throughout Tampa Bay for his humble demeanor and strong commitment to our community. We wish him well on his journey after football and look forward to honouring his Hall of Fame-worthy achievements in the near future.’
