Lavonte David To Host Rare Press Conference
March 24th, 2026
Announcement likely this afternoon.
Joe understands how folks could put two-and-two together and come to the conclusion that the signing of veteran linebacker Christian Rozeboom meant the end of Lavonte David, the Bucs iconic linebacker.
(Joe typed that the Bucs needed three new inside linebackers, regardless of whether David retired or not.)
But today, the question very likely will be answered whether David has retired. David is holding a rare press conference at One Buc Palace this afternoon at 2 p.m., the Bucs announced this morning.
The fact that David’s press conference will be held in the Bucs’ auditorium suggests this may be a farewell. That’s only used for special occasions.
Will David announce he is done? Or will he tell the world he’s playing one more year? The latter does not sound like David. He’s a guy who normally shies away from the spotlight. Joe doesn’t believe David would want folks talking everywhere he goes, “This is the last (fill in the blank) for Lavonte David.”
Who really knows?
We will find out this afternoon.
March 24th, 2026 at 9:44 am
OH, this is the retirement presser aint’it?
March 24th, 2026 at 9:44 am
Damn
March 24th, 2026 at 9:47 am
ÑNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 24th, 2026 at 9:52 am
Sad day he lost a step but he stuck it out with the team and kept grinding. I watched him his entire career people forget how incredible of a player he was in his prime and yes his prime he was better than Keuchly and Wagner. I will miss 54 closest thing to 55
March 24th, 2026 at 9:58 am
I might drop a few tears today when i watch this conference.
March 24th, 2026 at 9:59 am
One of my buddies lost a toe on his right foot and now uses a cap in its place. One night after way too many drinks, we took the cap, drew a face on it, added the number 58, and officially renamed it “LevanTOE David. Both will be missed,
March 24th, 2026 at 9:59 am
Glad he is going out on top. I honestly believe that after last season he is done and I would be surprised if he wanted to go back to the same pathetic defense led by Bowles. Man on an island with little help.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Awesome hope he retires be a good time for it.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:01 am
This is the best way to go out
Go out on top, do it with class
March 24th, 2026 at 10:04 am
My heart hurts
March 24th, 2026 at 10:07 am
Was really hoping for one last rodeo. Either way, love Lavonte. He’s a hall of famer and one of my favorite Bucs. What a stud, a true Schiano Man!
March 24th, 2026 at 10:08 am
Sorry to see him retire, but also glad to see him retire. He was a great player and the Bucs will miss him.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:08 am
First Mike now LVD☹️
March 24th, 2026 at 10:10 am
Class act. Go enjoy your life LVD. ROH and HOF for sure. Thank you, Sir. You will be missed.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:11 am
We are now on to a whole new chapter in Bucs football
March 24th, 2026 at 10:18 am
An Absolute Unit.
Thanks for the memories 54
March 24th, 2026 at 10:21 am
Rebuild and seee what you can get for wirfs
March 24th, 2026 at 10:22 am
His jersey number needs to be Retired
March 24th, 2026 at 10:22 am
Players come Players go. That’s the way it is in sports. Drama queens know it’s going to happen sooner or later.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:23 am
I dont ever want to see another #54 or #55 in a Bucs uniform
March 24th, 2026 at 10:23 am
Only Jersey name I would ever wear, but I don’t blame him he sees what others have already seen. Bowles sucks
March 24th, 2026 at 10:23 am
So happy for his family and daughter
March 24th, 2026 at 10:24 am
And him. Thank you LVD
March 24th, 2026 at 10:24 am
Class act. A real future Ring of Honor and hopefully Hall of Famer.
Thanks for everything Lavonte.
-David
March 24th, 2026 at 10:27 am
I’m glad this is happening, bucs would have been obligated to pay a rotational guy $5 million a year
March 24th, 2026 at 10:34 am
I wonder who was the first and last NFL player he tackled was? Stat nerds… dig.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:38 am
I would like to give Lee a little credit. Way back when, he loved LVD coming out of Nebraska before the draft. And kept hyping him early. And wow was he right!
March 24th, 2026 at 10:39 am
Sounds like he’s saying goodbye. He earned a nice retirement and I wish him well.
Bowles credibility is shrinking by the minute.
If all the veterans have had enough, that’s a big red flag.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:41 am
Yeah, he’s DUN.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:44 am
It is Time. Thx for the memories LVD. For Spike’s sake “do the Right thing!”
March 24th, 2026 at 10:45 am
A Buc legend. HOFer. He made the right choice to go out now.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:45 am
where can we watch?
March 24th, 2026 at 10:51 am
Difference is Mike deserted us, Lavonte didn’t. Thank you LVD for being a great loyal Buc for life.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:53 am
All of a sudden I’m not so excited about our FA linebackers. Sucks to be my liver.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:53 am
He will announce he’s signing with the 49ers, following Mike Evans to chase a ring.
March 24th, 2026 at 10:55 am
He will announce he’s signing with the 49ers, following Mike Evans to chase a ring. He loves Todd, though.
March 24th, 2026 at 11:02 am
Yeah you don’t usually schedule a press conference in a big space to announce a re-signing.
March 24th, 2026 at 11:03 am
It’s time
March 24th, 2026 at 11:10 am
What a waste 2025 season was…. so much hope shattered by injuries. I do blame the players who gave up. I was a flat out embarrassment and none of those give ups should be on 2026 squad.
March 24th, 2026 at 11:11 am
Believe Mike left because of Bowles, but if this is it for Lavonte, then no. He specifically said he would retire immediately if Bowles was fired. So no, not the same.
March 24th, 2026 at 11:12 am
One thing for sure
LVD long term replacement is waiting to be drafted
I hope we don’t mess up this draft
March 24th, 2026 at 11:13 am
Broken clock. But thanks Nicholas!
March 24th, 2026 at 11:15 am
The writing is on the wall. He’s done.
We wish you well in everything thing you do from here on out, LVD.
Thanks for everything. We appreciate you.
March 24th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Yes the draft will save the Bucs. A bunch of rookies coming into Bowles coaching, they’ll all hit the ground running, and by week 12 they’ll be walking.
It’s the key to our coach’s prowess.
March 24th, 2026 at 11:18 am
Mike said he went to a team that gives him a chance at another ring
A team that haven’t won a Lombardi trophy in decades 😭
The last time the 49ers won a Lombardi, l didn’t have children
Now I have grandchildren 🤣🤣
Their QB was in his prime, now Steve Young is 64 years old 🤔🤔
March 24th, 2026 at 11:19 am
It can be True, we will lose M1K3 & LVD in the same year, this is the WORST off season by far! Thanks to our qb…….no one has any faith in our always hurt qb! Damn Shame!
March 24th, 2026 at 11:23 am
Noooo
March 24th, 2026 at 11:24 am
Mark Dominik had some excellent draft picks
Especially for a guy, who had a very Short tenure as GM
No one has given Dominik credit for bringing us LVD
Thank You Mark Dominik
March 24th, 2026 at 11:25 am
“No one has given Dominik credit for bringing us LVD
Thank You Mark Dominik”
Because he was a bad GM
March 24th, 2026 at 11:26 am
I won’t miss seeing the back of his jersey chasing down some running back that caught a ball that he was supposed to be covering. Been overrated for years.
March 24th, 2026 at 11:26 am
Retirement press conference at least he waited a little after the Mike Evans situation could calm down. We all knew this day was coming. I was kinda hoping for 1 more year so he could break Brooks tackle record though.
March 24th, 2026 at 11:28 am
“He specifically said he would retire immediately if Bowles was fired.”
Breaking news, Bowles fired today! 😀
March 24th, 2026 at 11:29 am
Dominik players shined AFTER they left Tampa
But LVD and GMC was the great ones that stayed
March 24th, 2026 at 11:29 am
LVD – “I’m taking my talents to San Fran”.
Licht and Bowles fall on the floor and are rushed to the hospital. Glazers are seen drinking heavily at the bar.
Media are seen staring into space.
Ok, I kid.
Thanks LVD for all of your effort, leadership, and kindness through the years! You’re a true legend!
March 24th, 2026 at 11:30 am
Joe, will this be live anywhere?
March 24th, 2026 at 11:34 am
Damn. This is the worst offseason of my life as a Bucs fan.
Obviously he informed the team, they moved on Rozeboom and we get the David announcement today.
Enjoy retirement Lavonte, one of the greatest Bucs to ever do it!
March 24th, 2026 at 11:41 am
“Dominik players shined AFTER they left Tampa”
Talib was good in Tampa, but because Dominik had no backbone to stand up to Schiano we traded he & Blount for peanuts.
Dominic didn’t have a bunch of players leave the team and “shine” anywhere, they had careers.
Freeman, Brian Price, Benn, Myron Lewis, Bowers, Clayborn, Najee Good, John Banks, Akeem Spence, and the misses can go on and on. Dominik hit on 4-5 players in his time as our GM, he was trash
March 24th, 2026 at 11:44 am
Rozbloom played David’s position. Perhaps, the Bucs like the idea of resting David and not lose production. It makes sense. They both are rested and production reminds high. In theory it could improve play on both sides and allow the offense more opportunities to score. If the Bucs get back to scoring 28 plus points 👉 a game as they did under Liam, the Bucs can reach the playoffs where anything can happen.
March 24th, 2026 at 11:58 am
All the hate and hyberbole criticism directed toward him sure didnt help
March 24th, 2026 at 11:58 am
So is JL going to grow a pair and trade up for Styles or nah
March 24th, 2026 at 11:59 am
Because now we need our future LVD as much as we need a #1 Edge
March 24th, 2026 at 12:05 pm
Congratulations on the retirement, Lavonte!
March 24th, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Simeon4HOF Says:
March 24th, 2026 at 10:23 am
I dont ever want to see another #54 or #55 in a Bucs uniform
BINGO!!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!!
March 24th, 2026 at 1:03 pm
Some of these comments are beautiful and pure.
Some of them were written by human scum.
March 24th, 2026 at 2:29 pm
So we can hear the sorry explanation already from Bowles ….. we lost our defensive captain and the best receiver in team history blah blah blah …! Trying to build something here … blah blah … after being handed a Super Bowl winning team Bowles and Jason tore it down !! 3rd & 28 boys …..