Sean Payton Is Adamant That Lavonte David Is A Hall Of Fame Linebacker
February 24th, 2026
So Broncos head coach Sean Payton was the face of the evil Saints empire, one despised by Bucs fans for years.
Today, he might have lost a few haters in Tampa after Joe asked Payton a question about Lavonte David.
Payton was holding court with media at the NFL Scouting Combine and Joe joined in, as listening talk to Payton talk offense is always an education. And Joe had a mission: to ask Payton about Lavonte David.
Joe told Payton that David is pondering retirement and asked Payton if he thinks David has a Hall of Fame résumé.
“I do,” said Payton, noting David has Hall of Fame credentials. “I say that respectfully. And I know there was a lot of offseason talk; there always is those discussions, which are healthy discussions, with players or people, ‘Are they Hall of Fame worthy?’ I just saw [David] for so long. [David] would be like the Tony Gwynn example of just consistency over a long period of time, and there’s something to be said for that. Like extremely smart [player], and those guys are always difficult because they see all your flaws [on offense] if you’re not paying attention to them — your self-scout. That’s what was hard with [playing against] Luke Kuechly. We would spend hours trying to see what he was seeing, because there was nothing worse when someone like that would call a play out at the NFL level and you’re like, ‘How did they get that?’ So, I wish [David] well whatever he decides, but he’s something.”
Cool stuff. Payton had a lot of passion in his voice. Twenty-five minutes into the news conference, Payton’s energy seemed to perk up when Joe mentioned David.
For those confused by Payton’s Tony Gwynn analogy, Gwynn was a Hall of Fame baseball player who played 20 years for the San Diego Padres and was a model of batting consistency, though he did not hit for power. Gwynn also was a hell of a defensive player early in his career.
David is on the shelf when it comes to playing this season. If he does retire, in five years he’ll be eligible for the Hall and likely the subject of years of debate, in which Payton’s comments today will be helpful.
February 24th, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Gotta retire to get there…it’s time.
February 24th, 2026 at 6:01 pm
As much as I dislike him, it’s hard not to respect Sean Payton.
He knows his stuff, and that was quite an endorsement for LaVonte.
February 24th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
f sean payton.
February 24th, 2026 at 6:18 pm
Well said. Payton is a winner. So this is a great compliment for LD.
Maybe it’s time to have the HOF election process revised.
February 24th, 2026 at 6:48 pm
Great. Now LVD, please retire!!!!!
February 24th, 2026 at 7:10 pm
I wish Payton was our head coach. He gets remarkable performance and consistency from his teams. He’ll be a candidate for the Hall of Fame.
February 24th, 2026 at 7:21 pm
Took that crap team to the edge of the Show in 3 seasons
February 24th, 2026 at 7:43 pm
Should read “ David is on the fence”
February 24th, 2026 at 7:58 pm
Should be 1st Ballot
February 24th, 2026 at 7:59 pm
Add some talent around him in the front 7 and our D will be colossally better
February 24th, 2026 at 8:22 pm
Water is wet, grass is green, sky is blue.
February 24th, 2026 at 8:31 pm
Nice job Joe.
February 24th, 2026 at 8:32 pm
Luke Kuechly can’t even hold David’s jockstrap. The fact he made the HOF is a disgrace. It’s a good time to repost this like I do every year since it happened.
————
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
Luke wasn’t even the best LB in the NFC South and is MVP? What a joke.
February 24th, 2026 at 9:42 pm
Tony Gwynn… dude hit .394 in 1994. 6 points from .400. The guy only struck out 434 times over a 20 year period. In today’s game, the stat geeks would probably frown on that. They would rather see a guy get 500 at bats in a season, strike out 434 times, but hit 66 home runs, because his slugging percentage would be above average .528 so he would be more valuable than the guy who hit .338 for his career, but only slugged .459 which is below average,,, because we all know, guys who put balls in play are worse players than guys who strike out constantly but occasionally hit a home run… because in baseball, what’s the point of putting a ball in play….sorry for the baseball rant, but I think one of the Joe’s and I are on the same wavelength on Americas Favorite Pastime, so maybe he can empathize, specially since baseball season is kicking off, and every year I think this is the year I give baseball another chance…this is the year the great hitters return.. the Ironman pitchers return……the next Carew, Gwynn, Mattingly, Boggs are in someone’s camp right now.. the next Carlton, Ryan, Perry, Johnson are warming up, ready to go 9 innings…does anyone know Nolan Ryan had 15 complete games after he turned the age of 40….15! Today’s guys, the geeks tell them their arms will fall off if they go more than 5 innings. Forget it…. I’m not watching… never mind…. Back to Football. Roughly 150 days to go till training camp.
February 24th, 2026 at 9:56 pm
Lavonte is fortunate that Bowles came along and really coached up all the players around him. If not for Bowles, Lavonte wouldn’t have been as good.