Emotional Day At One Buc Palace For Bucs Icon Lavonte David
March 24th, 2026
Bucs icon Lavonte David bids the NFL goodbye.
It was a day no Bucs fan wanted to see, but we all knew it was coming.
It may not have been last year and it may not have been this year and it may not have been next year, but here it was. Lavonte David announced his fabulous 14-year NFL career and his football playing days were done.
“They wouldn’t let me leave,” David joked while responding to a question from Joe’s good friend Rock Riley of WDAE-AM 620/WDAE-FM 95.7 on why he didn’t choose to play for another team.
Unlike Mike Evans and Warren Sapp but very much like Derrick Brooks, Rondé Barber and Lee Roy Selmon, David will never wear another NFL team’s helmet.
There were all kinds of Bucs players, past and present, in attendance to honor one of the greatest linebackers to ever play. Gerald McCoy, Donovan Smith, Antoine Winfield, Tristan Wirfs, Cam Brate, Luke Goedeke, Tykee Smith and Anthony Nelson were just some of David’s teammates who paid their respect to David, a man who oozes respect.
Co-owners Bryan and Joel Glazer and Darcie Glazer Kassewitz were seated front row in the Bucs’ auditorium for the moment as were Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and Bucs coach Todd Bowles, as was linebackers coach Larry Foote.
Bowles noted far more teammates would have been at One Buc Palace if they weren’t out of town.
The afternoon began with David smiling ear-to-ear, but it took only a few moments before David broke down in tears recounting the sacrifices his parents made so he could play football, a sport that defined him as a child and adult and made him rich beyond his dreams.
In all, it was a memorable yet melancholy afternoon masked by smiles. A Bucs icon left the building. He’ll never wear a football uniform again.
The Lavonte David chapter of the Bucs is now complete.
— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) March 24, 2026
Lavonte David honors his parents at his retirement presser ❤️
🎥 via @buccaneers #NFLonDAZN #WeAreTheKrewe pic.twitter.com/O624jbMpjA
— NFL on DAZN (@NFLonDAZN) March 24, 2026
March 24th, 2026 at 3:22 pm
sad to finally be at the end. Great career. Time to turn the page as Bob Seger once said.
March 24th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
One of the Greatest Bucs of all time he will be in our ROH very soon
March 24th, 2026 at 3:24 pm
LVD was a true Buccaneer to the end. You can’t ask for a better player, teammate or person!
Have a great next chapter of your life and we look forward to seeing you in the HOF.
March 24th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
I got teared eyed it just means something when franchise guys play with one team and you watch them their entire career
March 24th, 2026 at 3:26 pm
Also good team glazer was there
March 24th, 2026 at 3:27 pm
Class.
Buc 4 ever.
Well done mr David
March 24th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Love 54. But you can’t beat Father Time. Good luck to you, LVD. I’m 36 too and I can’t imagine being a linebacker in the NFL at this age, no matter how great of shape I’d be in LOL
March 24th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
I’m proud of all 32 teams in the league. He was drafted, and retired on our team. I’ll never say Mike Evans is the ultimate Buccaneer ever again. Lavonte bleeds red and pewter.
March 24th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
Should be a no-brainer Hall of Famer.
One of the top two linebackers of his generation. Unfortunately, he never got the national accolades.
I wish him nothing but the best and can’t wait till he goes into the Ring of honor as well
The Bucs made a couple signings so far, and maybe Denis can turn it around, but they had better draft another ILB.
March 24th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
An all time great
From Miami Northwestern High to the Hall of Fame
March 24th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Enjoy retirement big fella, you deserve it….you stayed through thick and thin. Respect.
March 24th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
All the respect, sir. Dude put so much into this franchise. The hall will be calling one day
March 24th, 2026 at 4:08 pm
The dude gets it. He just does. I sure like football. And dudes that like football.
March 24th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
See ya at the ROH ceremony.
March 24th, 2026 at 4:41 pm
A Tampa Legend in all respects. Would make a great coach.
March 24th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
perfect ending…glad to see he didn’t stretch it that extra year that many so often do…
“lavonte……buc for life”…………has a nice ring to it 🙂
March 24th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
Sad day.
But at least the defense is in great hands with…….um………
Errrrr…………..
🙄