Feb. 15, 2026, 3:28 p.m. ET
For the past few seasons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Lavonte David has weighed his options about whether to return to the field or not. This offseason is no different for the wily veteran.
David, now 36, is unsure whether he will return to the Bucs for his 15th NFL season.
“I’m just still thinking about it,” David said last week on The Jim Rome Show. “It was a long season. A long season, for me, personally. Just dealt with a lot of things and the way everything went. Just got to have a great, right mentality for me. The great thing about it is the Bucs and me, we have great communication, so everything is open. We just talk to each other whenever each other is ready to make a deal, do something about it, but right now I’m just kind of calming down, relaxing, getting my body right, and getting myself in a mental place to be able to make a decision.”
David wants a return to be a complete thought, both mentally and physically. He wants to make sure his body can do it again, but more importantly, his mind has to be all in as well.
“If I’m not thinking I’m the best out there on the field, there’s no point in me going out there to play,” he said. “But so far, so good. The trajectory is climbing, I’m feeling pretty good, you know, physically, always, but mentally, I just have to get there. And when I’m there, I have to make sure I stay there to be able to take on whatever the season brings.”
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The Buccaneers have a bit of unfinished business after starting the season 6-2, then losing seven of their next nine games down the stretch and missing the playoffs, snapping a five-season streak.
David will take some time to weigh the decision, but it is safe to say last season left a sour taste in his mouth.
“We can’t do nothing but blame ourselves, the way that season went, the way it ended and everything like that,” David said. “I’m sure a lot of guys were left with a bad taste in their mouth and I know things will be different.”