Lavonte David Expects Thoughts Of A Football Return
May 23rd, 2026
It’s hard to step away from playing the game.
Lavonte David seems to know that. It might be a reason why he’s done an endless stream of interviews since retiring less than two months ago. The latest was on Maxx Crosby’s podcast — where David sounded like a guy who is sure he’s going to want to play football again.
“I haven’t really thought about football or thought about going back to football at this point, but I’m sure that’ll hit me soon,” David said. “But right now, man, I’m just cool with taking one day at a time.”
David also repeated something he said previously, that he really didn’t train fully for last season until right before training camp. That was because he had a knee injury that was corrected by surgery in January of this year.
David also dropped other fun nuggets. He said he trained like a defensive back during his down time and, often, with defensive backs.
He thought that was ideal for his game. And damn, that sure worked for the future Hall of Famer.
Also, the legendary Bucs linebacker said while he was 233 pounds at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine, he played at 215 pounds in college. The pressure to keep weight up in the NFL had David cheating, he said, stuffing weights in his pants/shorts to make the weight demands the Bucs had on him.
May 23rd, 2026 at 11:28 am
Lavonte you’re the man but leave things as they are. You don’t need an injury that may leave the rest of your life compromised in any way, shape or form. Who doesn’t respect Ali Marpet for retiring when he did thinking about any future health concerns? Good luck to you!
May 23rd, 2026 at 11:33 am
Noooo Dave!
May 23rd, 2026 at 11:51 am
Come on back and show the younger players how to loaf like a veteran.
May 23rd, 2026 at 11:57 am
…and them motivate them by scolding them for their lack of effort.
May 23rd, 2026 at 12:00 pm
The HOF’er Lee Roy Selmon did the same cheats at the annual weigh in. Selmon played at about 208 and sooooo incredibly fast.
May 23rd, 2026 at 12:08 pm
Was hoping the Bucs would bring him back as a mentor, mid season if injuries hit our LBers.
Seeing him do all this talking on podcasts and such, talking about loafing – he can stay on the bench.
May 23rd, 2026 at 12:36 pm
No thanks …..
May 23rd, 2026 at 12:37 pm
As a coach, sure!
May 23rd, 2026 at 12:37 pm
He never looked 233 to me. Just shows that speed and smarts worked at 215 during his career.
May 23rd, 2026 at 1:04 pm
One day David is Loafing,…. now thoughts of a return
Marvelous!
And we still stuck with the same DC as last season and the season before and the…….
May 23rd, 2026 at 1:20 pm
Had about enough of David. Go loaf somewhere else.
May 23rd, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Tykee Smith weighs the same.
He looks just as big.
Tykee Smith MUST be cross trained at LB or our dime package.
I want ZERO linebackers on obvious passing downs.
Give me Tykee Smith and Scott at LB on 3rd down and obvious passing situations.
Put Winfield at SS and find a long Ànd fast center fielder to play FS on 3rd down Ànd passing situations.
Many teams are switching to all DBs on 3rd down.
We need to do the same!!!!
Aren’t you all tired of getting destroyed in the middle of the field?
Tykee Smith and Scott at LB for our dime package.
Parish at nickle. Morrison and Zion on the outside.
Winfield at SS.
And we need to find a true FS who can play centerfield.
May 23rd, 2026 at 2:54 pm
Teacher man. We do. Only we do it with outside linebackers.
May 23rd, 2026 at 3:54 pm
@ HODAD and Lefty you really complaining about Bucs future hall of famer David being candid about his past, you both need to have your head examined.