Chris Simms and Connor Rogers honor Lavonte David’s storied career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after he announced his retirement from the NFL after 14 seasons.
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A guy that I feel like has just been underrated his entire NFL life- Bucs great Lavonte David finally announced his retirement.
A guy that I feel like has just been underrated his entire NFL life- Bucs great Lavonte David finally announced his retirement.
Yeah, it’s a, a sad day, I mean, but, but also an awesome thing.
Yeah, it’s a, a sad day, I mean, but, but also an awesome thing.
Lavonte David, I, and I, I’ve never really gotten a chance to, to be around Lavonte David other than just, like, a hello, and what’s up, and all of that, but I’ve always heard from friends in Tampa and all of that, I don’t think anybody would be surprised.
Lavonte David, I, and I, I’ve never really gotten a chance to, to be around Lavonte David other than just, like, a hello, and what’s up, and all of that, but I’ve always heard from friends in Tampa and all of that, I don’t think anybody would be surprised.
Awesome guy, gym rat football player, like we talked about, an absolute legend for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Awesome guy, gym rat football player, like we talked about, an absolute legend for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Gonna go in the ring of honor for their football team.
Gonna go in the ring of honor for their football team.
I’ve had a lot of people go, “Is he a Hall of Famer?”
I’ve had a lot of people go, “Is he a Hall of Famer?”
I don’t think he’s a Hall of Famer.
I don’t think he’s a Hall of Famer.
I don’t.
I don’t.
I think he’s a legend, and that’s what stinks about football.
I think he’s a legend, and that’s what stinks about football.
We got so many good players that we forget about, that don’t get to the Hall of Fame, and we go, “Yeah, man, that guy was amazing.”
We got so many good players that we forget about, that don’t get to the Hall of Fame, and we go, “Yeah, man, that guy was amazing.”
But I don’t think he’s quite a Hall of Famer, but certainly in the Bucs Ring of Honor, and one of the best defensive players in the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense.
But I don’t think he’s quite a Hall of Famer, but certainly in the Bucs Ring of Honor, and one of the best defensive players in the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense.
It’s a tricky one, right?
It’s a tricky one, right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Because he was so good for so long.
Because he was so good for so long.
Yeah.
Yeah.
He was only a first team All-Pro one time.
He was only a first team All-Pro one time.
One time, I know, yeah.
One time, I know, yeah.
Which is probably gonna hurt his Hall of Fame case.
Which is probably gonna hurt his Hall of Fame case.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
But it is weird.
But it is weird.
I don’t love this in baseball, but I actually like it in football a lot.
I don’t love this in baseball, but I actually like it in football a lot.
Longevity should matter- I, I know because he played linebacker from 2012 to 2025.
Longevity should matter- I, I know because he played linebacker from 2012 to 2025.
Feels like he walked away on his own accord.
Feels like he walked away on his own accord.
It d- does seem that way.
It d- does seem that way.
That’s a long time, from age 22 to 35.
That’s a long time, from age 22 to 35.
He never played less than 12 games in a season- Yeah which is nuts.
He never played less than 12 games in a season- Yeah which is nuts.
The last two years, he played all 17.
The last two years, he played all 17.
Right.
Right.
Which he forced The wildest Lavonte David stat is he forced 33 fumbles in his career.
Which he forced The wildest Lavonte David stat is he forced 33 fumbles in his career.
That’s incr- incredible.
That’s incr- incredible.
That’s- Yeah utterly ridiculous.
That’s- Yeah utterly ridiculous.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
But you’re right.
But you’re right.
It’s just that he didn’t have, like, the four years where he was Luke Kuechly or Patrick Willis.
It’s just that he didn’t have, like, the four years where he was Luke Kuechly or Patrick Willis.
Exactly, and I think that’s, you know, probably the more important thing to voters, and I think we’re seeing that a little bit, is just, like, what was your prime like?
Exactly, and I think that’s, you know, probably the more important thing to voters, and I think we’re seeing that a little bit, is just, like, what was your prime like?
And it was at elite.
And it was at elite.
That’s why Terrell Davis got in, and I think people were like, “Yeah, okay, so what?
That’s why Terrell Davis got in, and I think people were like, “Yeah, okay, so what?
His career was six years.”
His career was six years.”
But for four of them, he was the best running back in football.
But for four of them, he was the best running back in football.
So I, I think w- that justifies it, rather than certain other people you could talk about and go, “Yeah, he had an 18-year career,” but at no point in his career was he ever talked about as being a top three at his position- No or a top four.
So I, I think w- that justifies it, rather than certain other people you could talk about and go, “Yeah, he had an 18-year career,” but at no point in his career was he ever talked about as being a top three at his position- No or a top four.
And that’s the interesting thing about those kind of talks all the time.
And that’s the interesting thing about those kind of talks all the time.
Lavonte David, I feel like, yeah, was one, not a part of a lot of great defenses, which kind of hurts linebackers at times.
Lavonte David, I feel like, yeah, was one, not a part of a lot of great defenses, which kind of hurts linebackers at times.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I know they won the Super Bowl and did that, but they weren’t even that year looked at as like, “Oh, the Bucs D, watch out.”
I know they won the Super Bowl and did that, but they weren’t even that year looked at as like, “Oh, the Bucs D, watch out.”
Yeah, they were just good- They were, they were good they were good enough.
Yeah, they were just good- They were, they were good they were good enough.
They were good.
They were good.
Yeah.
Yeah.
They were good.
They were good.
Exactly right.
Exactly right.
So he wasn’t a part of that, and then I also think, yeah, to your point, he had the, only the one year All-Pro, and just not enough years of being considered one of the two or three best linebackers in the sport.
So he wasn’t a part of that, and then I also think, yeah, to your point, he had the, only the one year All-Pro, and just not enough years of being considered one of the two or three best linebackers in the sport.
But, you know, congrats to Lavonte David, and enjoy that, that retirement
But, you know, congrats to Lavonte David, and enjoy that, that retirement