Brian Baldinger Remembers The “Pinnacle” Of Lavonte David’s Career
March 27th, 2026
Champion.
It may not have been Lavonte David’s best game. But it was certainly his most memorable.
Former NFL offensive lineman and NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said the pinnacle of any veteran player is the game in which he wins a ring. And Baldinger thinks that one of David’s best games was the night the Bucs won the Super Bowl in February 2021, right on the same turf of The Licht House.
David was matched up with Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce, Pat Mahomes’ favorite target. Both Kelce and David were in the prime of their careers.
Did David shut down Kelce? No.
Did David make Kelce work for every catch he made? You betcha.
Most importantly, did David keep Kelce out of the end zone? Hell, yes!
In what was one of the greatest defensive efforts we’ve ever seen in a Super Bowl, David was a critical cog for the Bucs in being a first-class pest to Kelce. David may not have shut down Kelce, but he sure made sure Kelce never burned the Bucs.
And as David has now exited stage right for his career, Baldinger thought it would be fitting to celebrate David’s play on the game’s biggest stage in David’s biggest game.
.@Buccaneers @Chiefs #SBLV @LavonteDavid54 played every snap; as per usual; and was tasked with shadowing @tkelce …. Helped keep the Chiefs out of the endzone that evening. Onto his next chapter…He will be missed but never forgotten. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/q1fqPleJpU
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) March 25, 2026
March 27th, 2026 at 2:14 am
It must be noted with an asterisk- the Chiefs had a 70 year old Denny’s waitress at one OT position, and a dance mom at the other OT. Kelce had one crucial drop that could have changed the face of the game. There were 6 Mahomes passes that were catchable that clanged off dudes’ facemasks.
Point is, they missed a lot more plays than the Bucs made. They also had a lot more questionable penalties callled against them than the Bucs did.
Bowles gets way too much credit for that game, where he had a boss who was the head coach. Cooper Kupp.
March 27th, 2026 at 2:22 am
LVD will be missed. Ultimate Professional.
One of his plays stands out to me is his late 4th Quarter fumble recovery during the Rams playoff game when Suh stripped the ball from the running back. Huge play and The Goat led Offence tied the game up and we came back and won the Game! Oh hold on, no…Dependable Bowels and Cooper Kupp. Been downhill ever since.
March 27th, 2026 at 2:36 am
Evans, I don’t want to hear that crap. Honestly and I’m sorry for being more blunt than normal, but for WEEKS we heard how we didn’t belong, how the Chiefs were amazing and going to smoke us. Tom Brady threw 3 picks, blah, blah, blah. WEEKS!!! No one had us winning. It wasn’t until the day of when I first heard that the Chiefs MIGHT be in trouble.