Lavonte David Lists Key Factors That Will Determine If He Returns To The Bucs For A 15th Season
January 16th, 2026
“Todd, are you and Jason going to bring in a real edge rusher this year? I need to know by OTAs. Otherwise, I’m going fishing.”
Joe believes fans reading the following, using the same parameters that Lavonte David himself has set for either a return to the Bucs or retirement, that fans will conclude David may have played his last game.
David this week appeared with his former Nebraska teammate Will Compton and former Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan on an episode of “Bussin’ with the Boys.” Compton asked David what will it take for David to decide he can play one more year.
David listed several factors, including how the Bucs will attack the offseason and address needs, as a factor. Like Mike Evans, David has no desire to play on a team that doesn’t have a Super Bowl run as a reachable goal.
“These seasons are long, you know?” David said as he began his conditions for a return. “Am I going to be focused? Am I going to locked in? Am I going to be, am I going to have my best foot forward for the team, you know, for 17, 18, weeks of the season?
“And then, next, is my abilities. Am I still gonna be able to, you know, cover tight ends? Am I still gonna be able to punch and shed? If I’m gonna be able to, you know, make physical downhill tackles the way I always do?”
Simply put, David does not want to drag down the Bucs.
“I just don’t want to be a liability when I’m out there,” David said. “I’m saying, always [telling] family when my ability starts to diminish, I don’t want to be one of those guys, ‘What he’s like? Oh yeah, man, it’s time to hang it up, bro.’ I never wanted to get to that point.
“And, the situation and what’s going on in [Tampa], you know, you got a lot of coaching changes down there. Are they going to put the right people in places and stuff like that?
“And, am I just going to be able to endure, physically.”
That last point Joe is guessing a lot of fans will suggest, “We love you, Lavonte, but it’s time.” Well, David said he may have played the full season more hurt than he ever had. He was battling an aging knee and he told Compton and Lewan he had to have his knee drained weekly.
Lewan, who dealt with his own knee injuries playing for the Titans, underwent two knee surgeries from two separate injuries on the same knee, one of which Lewan claimed was a botched surgery, and he later sued the surgeon. He asked David “How many CCs” was the most fluid he ever had drained from his knee this past season?
David said, 50. Lewan gasped at David’s response and said, “That’s a lot!”
Just hearing how David was dealing with such a painful knee, that alone makes Joe think David is likely finished as an NFL linebacker.
January 16th, 2026 at 7:11 am
Go out gracefully and on your terms, Lavonte. You have earned it.
January 16th, 2026 at 7:14 am
50 CCs?? My goodness.
My hope for LVD is for him to come back knowing he’s not going to be relied on for 90% + of the snaps.
Have this be more of a transition year where the Bucs draft a LB at 15 and/or in the 2nd round and LVD helps to coach up Dennis and the new guy (and a LEGITIMATE free agent guy…no more Anthony Walker bs).
If I controlled the Bucs and LVD, that’s what I would do. But, I do not.
Whatever he chooses to do, he was fun as heck to watch.
January 16th, 2026 at 7:26 am
^^^What Freddy PA said [well said]
January 16th, 2026 at 7:31 am
play 30 % of snaps and be a leader
January 16th, 2026 at 7:37 am
Retirement please ❤️❤️❤️❤️
January 16th, 2026 at 7:46 am
I commented on here multiple times late in the season in saying David was playing really injured all season. Most on here would just say he is washed. He isn’t washed. He can still play and need him for this upcoming season. Bucs need to draft a few linebackers and have David train them and make some plays to win games while he at it. Come on back for one season Lavonte David!!!
January 16th, 2026 at 7:51 am
He’s earned the right and showed the accountability to make his call. Has he slipped? Sure but I still saw him running ball carriers down. The ability is there. I just want to see more depth at the ILB position. That would help a lot.
January 16th, 2026 at 7:55 am
They never know when to quit. As long as the benjamins come.
January 16th, 2026 at 7:58 am
One more dance, Lavonte, we love you!
January 16th, 2026 at 8:13 am
The Bucs need a faster, younger defense…They seem to be doomed with Bowles back running that sh!tshow, so he might as well come back.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:17 am
Promote Foote to D.C., and sign Lavonte to take his spot. Bowles can still be the de facto D.C. (even though he shouldn’t), but Foote can take over some of the other responsibilities while still contributing as needed in his former role, all the while we get Lavonte to coach up the substantial rebuilding we have to do with linebackers this year.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:19 am
Love LVD, I wish him the best no matter what he does. I do hope that he remains with the team as a player or coach for a year or two to mentor the young ILB’s that the Bucs need to bring in. The Bucs really need to bring in a free agent ILB that can be the on-field play caller.
He mentions coaching, would he be more energized if the Bucs bring in a new DC?
January 16th, 2026 at 8:35 am
In a perfect world you have enough roster spots to carry a mentoring veteran who only plays 30% of the snaps. Unfortunately every swinging Richard who is active on game day is at least needed for jarring special teams plays. It’s better if LVD retires but stays in playing shape so they can pull him off the shelf if the position is decimated by injury.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:36 am
“I just don’t want to be a liability when I’m out there,”
This quote hit the nail on the head.
Please retire LVD.
We love you.
But it’s time big guy…
January 16th, 2026 at 8:41 am
Earned the right…STOP. Here we go again with this BS. This is a business. Lavonte has already been compensated well for his contributions. Never seen a fanbase hang on so desperately to nostalgia. If anything not wanting to see Lavonte play for another Superbowl contender (as backup of course) simply because you cant bare to see him in another uniform is a YOU problem and selfish of the highest order. There have been many more, and MUCH more esteemed players in this league that have moved on. Tampa needs a complete enema. In a pretend world where Tampa lands both Ohio State Linebackers (wont happen) they’d be an order of magnitude better over night before even playing a down. They’d be much bigger, theyd be much nastier, faster. The bucs have got to find a new identitiy
January 16th, 2026 at 8:41 am
I hate to say it.
But it’s time.
He’s one of my all time heroes.
I’ve seen every game since he was drafted.
But he needs to retire. It’s time.
And it’s perfect that he tied Derrick Brooks during his final game.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:46 am
Father Time is undefeated. LVD..go see Richards Bespoke and get fitted for a gold jacket. You’ve been amazing!
January 16th, 2026 at 8:46 am
That knee might be he wasn’t looking quite like the regular Lavonte David… he gets that cleaned up this offseason, and he may look like a new man. Was the knee a factor in his less than All-Pro play and can it be fixed this offseason? Most likely it is a cartilage issue which can often be trimmed and made to fit better. He’s never torn an ACL so a large meniscus tear and wearing out is more unlikely but smaller tears and instability is usually what causes fluid… if there is still a meniscus, it can likely be evened out and fixed. He’ll still likely be getting it replaced around 50 but this can buy him some time.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:51 am
Sruck with a head coach that never takes accountability and blames everyone else. Its toxic. Should have stepped down like Tomlin when the cheap azz glazers didn’t fire him.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:52 am
The best thing he said was not to be dragging the team down. If he can still play and he wants to then fine but at a high level. That knee injury says a lot but what’s not said is was it due to a reason or just age? If he even THINKS it’s time to hang it up then it is. But if the team makes some really solid moves and he see’s some hope then yeah come back.
January 16th, 2026 at 8:54 am
True legend always. Will be sad to see you go, but you must look out for you first. Bowels didn’t get the right help on the other side of you. If he had we would have had a A+ coached startup if linebacker. Dennis is not the answer.
January 16th, 2026 at 9:24 am
A crazy fact.
Devin White had 174 tackles for the Raiders.
174 tackles!
That’s insane!
January 16th, 2026 at 9:29 am
I love David, but unless he comes back only as a rotational player or as potentially a coach for linebackers I think his days as a starting linebacker are essentially over.
What I hope Tampa does:
Free agency go after one or more of the following:
Devin Bush, Devin Lloyd, Quay Walker.
Draft:
Trade up to get either Arvell Reese who can play a Micah Parsons type role on this defense by playing both inside linebacker and then moving over to Edge rusher on passing downs.
If that is not a possibility I would do what I could to get Sonny Styles. The guy is somewhat of an athletic freak. He is newer to the linebacker position having originally played at safety but has grown in size to 6 foot 4 240 lb with excellent coverage skills. He could be exactly what our defense needs in the middle of the field to both cover and from what I read had 0% missed tackle rates this past year.
If for some reason neither of those two are available I would then try to trade back a few spots and go for Anthony Hill out of Texas who still was attacking machine and could still cover and get after the quarterback too.
All three of those linebackers in the draft are easily first round talent can easily make a serious impact in their rookie year unlike most edge rushers. They fill up position of need and because of their athleticism can also be used as a chest piece by a good defensive mind to both get after the quarterback or in coverage….
Picking up one in free agency probably in the 12 to 15 million a year range along with one in the draft would instantly upgrade our linebacker position which has been our weakest area for the past two seasons. It would also improve our pass rush to some degree as at least two of those guys and probably styles as well can blitz can have the size to do some pass rush from the edge on certain downs as well.
As for edge rush I don’t mind going hard at it and the second round or the third round and use one of the other picks in second and third to get a quality tight end to replace Otton.
They’re also happens to be a long list of edge rushing free agents and while there might be a lot of competition for Trey Hendrickson, there are at least two I would consider who I think would be reasonable pieces and would not break the bank. They include Owafe from Chargers, Philips (who we could have had this past year from the Dolphins) from Eagles . While neither of them do I think would give us double digit plus sacks per season, I think either one would get us somewhere in that seven to nine range which when paired with Yaya and hopefully a healthy and hungry walker could give us at least some semblance of a pass rush especially with Kancey back and the above mentioned linebacker.
I would also want to use a top four round pick on a space eating defensive tackle that can start against the run and occasionally spell Vea. Or find one in free agency.
Those moves plus a guy who can be a good backup at guard and center and I think we can really turn this roster around in one season without breaking the bank or relinquishing any significant draft picks.
January 16th, 2026 at 9:31 am
Have an idea why don’t we let him retire have a big ceremony and at the same time hire him as a defensive assistant linebacker’s type coach so that he remains within the organization and can help train and coach our future crop of linebackers as he is an excellent model
January 16th, 2026 at 9:49 am
Work a deal with LVD that he retires but is retained as a coach. Set up a work schedule where he has dad time – morning dropoff – but is still a major contributor to the ILB room as a coach. If he wants to stay in shape, he could be re-signed in the playoffs if the Bucs need him.
January 16th, 2026 at 10:12 am
All these guys want to die in the ring. He isn’t fast enough to cover running backs anymore. Great career. The end.