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By Logan Brown
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It was only a matter of time, but a staple of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' identity is finally hanging up his cleats.
Linebacker Lavonte David, a 14-year veteran who spent his entire NFL career in Tampa Bay, announced his retirement on Tuesday. David was a 12-time captain for the Buccaneers' defense and helped lead the team to a Super Bowl victory in the 2020-21 season.
David, 36, finishes his career with the Buccaneers with 1,714 total tackles, tying him with former Tampa Bay legendary linebacker Derrick Brooks for the most in franchise history. David's 14 seasons with the team trail only Ronde Barber for the longest continued stint with the organization.
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Somehow, David's accomplishments in Tampa Bay were largely unrecognized by the NFL. Despite consistently being one of the top tacklers in the league, David made just one Pro Bowl in his career (2015) and earned one first-team All-Pro selection (2013). The lack of honors might dampen his case for the Hall of Fame, but he will certainly become a Buccaneers Hall of Famer and Ring of Honor member in time.
"For the past 14 seasons, Lavonte David has personified what it means to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer," the Glazer family, which owns the team, said in a statement. "He was a selfless leader both on and off the field, playing with passion and a genuine love for the game. 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."
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David was a second-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Nebraska and quickly became a defensive force, finishing fifth in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race. Since entering the league, Davids ranks first in solo tackles with 1,171 and second in tackles for loss with 177. David is one of seven NFL players to ever reach 1,700 total tackles in a career since they became a tracked metric in 1994. He joins Brooks, Ray Lewis, Zach Thomas, Bobby Wagner, Junior Seau and London Fletcher.
The decision for David has been weighed all offseason, and general manager Jason Licht left it up to him and gave him as much time as he needed. Linebacker is likely a position the Buccaneers will look to address in the 2026 NFL Draft, despite signing veteran Alex Anzalone to a deal earlier in the offseason.
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