Lavonte David Thinks Social Media Cost Him Pro Bowls
May 11th, 2026
Ten years ago, Lavonte David had a public meltdown on Twitter when the Bucs fired head coach Lovie Smith.
That’s right. Mild-mannered David lost it lashing out after Smith was launched following the Bucs finishing 6-10 in 2015 — after starting 6-6.
“WTF YO!!!! … This is stupid, we can’t even have a consistent coach, 3 coaches in 5 yrs … Outside looking in, y’all wouldn’t understand how great of a coach/person he is … I guess yall got what you been asking for smh,” David Tweeted.
Speaking on the The Set with T. Sted podcast last week, David said that Tweet, which quickly was deleted, prompted him to get off Twitter and largely disappear from social media for much of his career.
That low profile, David explained, may have cost him postseason honors.
“Once I got to the league people around me was like, ‘You need to get on social media, this Twitter thing. You can interact with people and stuff like that make you more popular so people can see who you are,” David explained. “That’s one thing I do kind of regret, though. I wish I would have kept [Twitter]. Seeing how big social media is now, people buiding their brand.
“Me, I’m a private person, never put myself out there and stuff like that. But just thinking about it now, it may have helped me get a couple of Pro Bowls under my belt. But it’s all good now.”
Podcast host Terron Armstead, a four-time Pro Bowler with the Saints, agreed wholeheartedly with David that social media popular is tied to Pro Bowl honors. “Which is so dumb to me,” Armstead said. “So dumb. That’s the world we live in.”
Interesting take by David, who admitted years ago he avoided Hard Knocks cameras when the Bucs were featured on the HBO series in 2017.
If David ever becomes a Hall of Fame class finalist, which means his case to selectors would be made live via Ira Kaufman or another Hall panelist, this social media angle would have to be worth mentioning. It’s at least plausible that David keeping to himself helped cost him honors selectors value when they vote.
May 11th, 2026 at 1:14 pm
is anybody already suffering from LVD retirement comments overload? I sure am. This guy was quiet his whole career and now it’s a Daily Commentary digest.
May 11th, 2026 at 1:29 pm
It’s slow season. I’ll take any news I can get. Thanks Joes!
But I hear you Truth Be Told.
May 11th, 2026 at 1:57 pm
The Bucs fired Lovie because they thought they had something special in Jameis
And they thought Dirk was developing Jameis
What they didn’t realize, was that Jameis was the problem
We had a top 10 defense in total yards, but we gave up a lot of point
But, the offense had a lot of turnovers, the PK missed a lot of FG
We had a terrible punter, and we ranked at the bottom in net punting
Everything added up to the defense constantly starting on a short field
I don’t blame Lavonte for going off
At some point you need consistency
May 11th, 2026 at 2:03 pm
If the Lovie tweet is any indication of LVD’s social media posting abilities staying off was probably the right way to go.
May 11th, 2026 at 2:24 pm
“Ten years ago, Lavonte David had a public meltdown on Twitter when the Bucs fired head coach Lovie Smith.”
He also has heavily endorsed TB Zero. Clearly his judgement is way off.
Stop complaining. You won a SB title thanks to Tom Brady.
That should be enough for you to be happy.
May 11th, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Every head coach Lavonte has had except for BA has been poor to catastrophic. So, there’s that.
May 11th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
No, playing in football media Siberia cost him pro bowls. National media types don’t pay attention to Tampa, save the Brady years. If LVD and ME played their careers for the Bears they would both be first ballot HOF locks
May 11th, 2026 at 2:39 pm
I love the fact that BA comes in with JW and still can’t win. Until he got Brady and that first half was bad until they got it going, then the wheels come off. A coach can only go as far as his players and if you have crap players you can’t go any higher with what you have. Can coach’s make players better? Absolutely but if the player won’t put in the effort then whatever the coach does doesn’t matter. This is life/football 101 and I still see clowns posting some the drivel they do.
Social media shouldn’t have any effect on LD’s chances of being in the HOF when the time comes. I am glad he wasn’t, I don’t think it hurt him.
May 11th, 2026 at 2:51 pm
Pretty sure it was because Luke and Bobby were also in the league at the time not alot to do with his social media.
May 11th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
How many pro bowls does Mike Evans who was on the same team? who is also pretty low key.
May 11th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
If he’s treated fairly in the voting process, he will be in the HOF. That will more than make up for the lack of Pro Bowls.
May 11th, 2026 at 2:54 pm
He has the numbers. The rest is noise.
May 11th, 2026 at 2:56 pm
BA is a overrated coach people think just because he cusses in press conferences and on the side line he’s a good coach and that’s not true. When BA offense had Brady at 12 picks half of the season the meadi went crazy and it’s been reported that Brady told BA let’s win another way and they changed the offense from no risky no biscuit offense to Brady’s New England Patriots offense like it should have been the first place.
May 11th, 2026 at 2:57 pm
That picture has ice cream McCoy and eating Ws Winston. No wonder 54 was losing it.
May 11th, 2026 at 3:06 pm
Joe, since you’re bringing up the past, spill the beans on the whole DJax situation lol….its been years lol…
Social Media aint for everyone lol…kinda like AI lol
GO BUCS!!!!
May 11th, 2026 at 3:17 pm
Can’t ever post this enough…
2013 Luke Kuechly
156 TKLS, 2 SACKS, 10 TFL, 4 INTs, 7 PDs, 2 QB Hits, 0 FF, 0 SAFETY
vs
2013 Lavonte David
145 TKLS, 7 SACKS, 21 TFL, 5 INTs, 10 PDs, 13 QB Hits, 2 FF, 1 SAFETY
Luke – NFL Defensive MVP
David – Doesn’t even make the Pro-Bowl
This is why the Pro-Bowl is completely meaningless – and has been ever since they allowed moronic fans to vote. Which is independent of the fact the Luke wasn’t even the best LB in the NFC South the year he won defensive MVP.
May 11th, 2026 at 3:32 pm
I bet LVD won’t trade his super bowl win for that DPOTY trophy.
Suck on that Kuechly (and the Panthers at large).
Plus LVD pocketed a lot more money with that long career of his.
May 11th, 2026 at 4:43 pm
He didn’t make the pro bowl because the Bucs barely won their bad division. When they did, they were one, and done in the playoffs. David was a tackling machine, but that doesn’t get you in either. Interceptions, and sacks do. The other thing that hurt him is he’s a nice guy, not considered a bad arse like a Ray Lewis. Strike three, small market.
May 11th, 2026 at 6:50 pm
So glad you linked that podcast. WHAT AN INTERVIEW! Thanks.
May 11th, 2026 at 6:54 pm
Maybe.
A lot of it has to do with the ignorance of the national media. I mean, just look at the past couple years and the focus on the Giants and the Jets because they’re in a big market, but they both been horrible teams.
The only way to fix the pro bowl is to let NFL players and coaches vote.
They can’t vote for anyone on their own team
Offensive players vote for defensive players and vice versa.
Get fans and journalists out of it
May 11th, 2026 at 10:06 pm
Not social media…fan voting.
May 11th, 2026 at 10:06 pm
David Says:
“Get fans and journalists out of it”
Exactly.
May 11th, 2026 at 11:14 pm
I’m thinking it was those Burger King Uni’s