Jason Licht: Lavonte David And Mike Evans’ Numbers Are “Off Limits”
May 8th, 2026
Rookies better pick numbers carefully.
Joe thought one of the more galling, tone deaf, disconnected-with-reality moves in years was last spring when Giants rookie edge rusher Abdul Carter had the nerve to call up Lawrence Taylor and ask if he could unretire LT’s number and wear No. 56.
Rightly, LT, perhaps the greatest defensive player in the history of the game, told Carter to get lost and make history with his own number.
Man, you have to have balls to think you’ve got the street cred to wear No. 56 in Giants blue.
Well, Joe hasn’t heard of any Bucs rookie trying such a stunt, but if a rookie is pawing through Bucs jerseys and gets too close to No. 13 or No. 54, Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht will likely holler at the naïve rookie, “Get your mitts off that jersey!”
Appearing on “Up and Adams” yesterday, hosted by the #NFLMedia it-girl Kay Adams, Adams said she’s noticed Bucs jersey numbers beginning to trickle out on social media for the rookies, but she hasn’t seen anyone strutting around with No. 13 or No. 54.
Licht told Adams she’s unlikely to see that.
“I’m going to say those are off limits right now,” Licht said.
Bravo!
The Bucs have retired numbers and semi-retired numbers. Lee Roy Selmon (63), Warren Sapp (99) and Derrick Brooks (55) are the only three officially retired numbers for Tampa Bay. But others have been put on ice. You don’t see anyone wearing Mike Alstott’s number (40), or Ronde Barber’s (20) or John Lynch (47).
So it seems, at least for the time being, David’s No. 54 and Evans’ No. 13 are in mothballs.
Buccaneers GM Jason Licht confirms that, as of now, #13 and #54 are "off limits" for new players@jasonrlicht | @Buccaneers | @MikeEvans13_ | @LavonteDavid54 | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/ia5rcj0n3h
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 7, 2026
May 8th, 2026 at 4:45 am
An interesting problem. Especially for teams that have been playing since the 20’s. There are 100 possible uniform numbers and teams can have 91 rostered players during preseason with the foreign player rule. Plus, players can be replaced on the roster while sitting on IR. Not much room for retired numbers.
May 8th, 2026 at 4:50 am
i’d also like to point out that lawrence taylor’s arms were the same darn length as bain’s so let’s put all that squawking to rest, and put some tippy toeing quarterbacks into the dirt.
May 8th, 2026 at 5:04 am
When a team runs out of numbers, they can go to punctuation marks and emojis. That should make the play-by-play man’s job a lot more interesting. “Happy Face just got a first down!” “Ampersand just sacked the quarterback!” (Ampersand doesn’t play for the Bucs)
May 8th, 2026 at 5:18 am
What about 40? If Trotter takes it and doesn’t absolutely ball out there will be problems…
May 8th, 2026 at 5:31 am
Sethery—
Show me. Where can I find a record of Lawrence Taylor’s arm length?
In 1981, the year he was drafted, arm length/reach was not measured at the combine.
Unless you were Lawrence Taylor’s taylor or loaned him one of your long-sleeved shirts, how would you know?
May 8th, 2026 at 5:42 am
As much as i would like sethery to be right, LT had freakishly long arms and used them greatly to his advantage.
May 8th, 2026 at 7:04 am
No.56 should’ve been put on ice years ago.
May 8th, 2026 at 7:50 am
Warren Brooks Lynch Says:
May 8th, 2026 at 7:04 am
No.56 should’ve been put on ice years ago.
—————————————————————————-
The jersey or the man?
May 8th, 2026 at 7:58 am
HopeIn1Hand… Says:
May 8th, 2026 at 5:18 am
What about 40? If Trotter takes it and doesn’t absolutely ball out there will be problems
+++++++++++++
Trotter will wear 45.
May 8th, 2026 at 8:00 am
“The jersey or the man?”
Hardwares’ number
May 8th, 2026 at 8:04 am
D@mn…how cool would it be to see a Buc wear 00 – Jim Otto style!
May 8th, 2026 at 8:09 am
sethery, where did you read or hear anything referencing LT’s arm length. They didn’t publish that information even if arm length was measured in 1981.
May 8th, 2026 at 8:09 am
My .02 cents
I think that after 10 years or so that a player can give permission for his number to be released to a player of his choice and that number would be used with a small star on each side of the number in tribute to the original player… win win !
May 8th, 2026 at 8:11 am
Didn’t read the article, but my comment is, don’t care about Evans, and David. One is 49er, one thank goodness retired. There will be another time to talk about them when they’re honored for their careers. Until than, not interested.
May 8th, 2026 at 9:33 am
I get number 54 but 13 should be available evans is a traitor in my book i know it means nothing to all you mofos what i think but i don’t care about none of you either i hope evans is wearing anything but a buc jersey when going into the hall of fame he doesn’t deserve it f him
May 8th, 2026 at 9:50 am
David YES…. Evans NO. He chose to leave. You want to know what the problems with the Bucs are…. It all starts with the LUNCY OF LICHT.
May 8th, 2026 at 9:54 am
HopeIn1Hand… Says:
“What about 40? If Trotter takes it and doesn’t absolutely ball out there will be problems.”
Joe said 40 is one of the official off-limits numbers.
May 8th, 2026 at 9:55 am
Still to this date #47 my favorite player. Mr John smash you in the mouth lynch. Not only was he a great player he ain’t doing to bad at being a GM. Wish football would go back to the days of getting layed out like lynch , Dawkins , both Taylor’s LT and Sean, ray Lewis , urlacher those guys would take your heads off. None of them prob would be able to play in this flag football league today. Lol
May 8th, 2026 at 10:00 am
I assume the 13 is off-limits because when Evans officially retires, he’ll be signed for a day and do it as a Buc.
So far as him going to the 49ers, I don’t howld it against him. Our young guys need more playing time. I’ll miss him, but I was hoping he’d retire any way.
I don’t think he’ll make it more than 1-2 more years anyway.
May 8th, 2026 at 10:22 am
“Still to this date #47 my favorite player. Mr John smash you in the mouth lynch.”
Finding out much later in my life that Lynch & Alstott were forbidden from making contact with one another during practices for the safety of the team and staff will never not be hilarious to me.
May 8th, 2026 at 10:25 am
Patriots way always said that it is better to get rid of a player a year too soon than a year too late. I think Evans may have come a year too late. I just dont think the grass will be greener and those hamstrings will just get more fragile.
I don’t think I can recall any 97’s since Tyoka Jackson… other than Simeon Rice, I mean
May 8th, 2026 at 10:50 am
I’ll come out and say it.
If 13 and 54 are off limits then why not 93? In terms of career awards, GMC did as much as they did. Evans and David have a ring, but that’s due to coaching and the team that was put together. GMC’s biggest sins is that he was a part of some of the worst teams in Bucs history and that he wasn’t Warren Sapp.
May 8th, 2026 at 10:54 am
3.28 is probably available
May 8th, 2026 at 11:31 am
D-Rome.
There has to be a cutoff. i.e. players who just made the cut and those who did not.
Personally, I am ok with Evans and David making the cut and GMC not making the cut. Certainly, Evans and David on top 10 of everyone’s all-time Bucs list.
May 8th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
Geno712, I agree with you.
May 8th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
93 didn’t win an SB!!!!!
I applaud JL AND THE BUCS for protecting 54 & 13….they should be off limits
GO BUCS
May 8th, 2026 at 4:04 pm
Mike Evans, a 49er. This is an atrocity. Way to go Jason. Keep the problem, fire all the wrong people and drive off your best players, pretending that a crop of rookies who can’t catch or cover are going to save yours and Genius’s jobs. Crock.
May 8th, 2026 at 9:15 pm
Evans is the only one of that group who turned down a better offer from the Bucs and left. The salary cap crunch that led to the team letting Lynch go and Sapp to walk, was unfortunate & poor cap management. Lynch’s neck issues made him an easier choice to lose, but it was the cap mismanagement that led to that consideration.
I’m in agreement that 13 is off limits, for now. The more time that goes by, though, it will be more & more acceptable to see another wearing the one three on the Bucs. Ring of honor & a handshake thank you for your hard work is the permanent accolades due to someone that voluntarily & willingly turned away from the franchise.