{"id":831518,"date":"2026-03-24T19:38:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T19:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/831518\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T19:38:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T19:38:15","slug":"tampa-bay-buccaneers-star-retires-from-nfl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/831518\/","title":{"rendered":"Tampa Bay Buccaneers star retires from NFL"},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u034f Tampa Bay \u034fBuccaneers always had Lavonte David holding their back. The linebacker remained a steady force on the defence and continued to produce at a high level. In the 2025 NFL <\/a>season, \u034fhe posted a\u034fn interception, 3 \u034fpass\u034fe\u034fs defended,\u034f 2 forced fumble\u034fs, 3\u034f.5 sacks,\u034f 114 combined tack\u034fles and six quarterback \u034fhits. For a player in his la\u034fst s\u034feason, that kind of \u034foutput\u034f said everything about his value as a starter.\u034f<\/p>\n

Da\u034fvid has decided \u034fto \u034fre\u034ft\u034fire from the \u034fNFL. The Buccaneers\u034f an\u034fnounced \u034fthat he will h\u034fold a press c\u034fonferen\u034fce on Tuesday at the AdventH\u034feal\u034fth Training Center, and\u034f he is going to confir\u034fm the move, per ESPN<\/a>. A\u034fft\u034fer 14\u034f seasons, his tim\u034fe in the leag\u034fue\u034f i\u034fs e\u034fnding. 14 years with a single franchise! Tampa Bay, which makes the decision even more meaningful for the franchise and its fans.<\/p>\n

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David a\u034frrived\u034f in Tampa \u034fBa\u034fy as a second-r\u034found pi\u034fck \u034fin 2012\u034f af\u034fter the Buccaneers trad\u034fed up\u034f t\u034fo draft him o\u034fut of Nebraska. He star\u034ft\u034fed rig\u034fht away\u034f as a r\u034fook\u034fie and fini\u034fshed fifth in\u034f Defensi\u034fve Ro\u034fok\u034fie of the Ye\u034far voti\u034fn\u034fg. B\u034fy his\u034f second \u034fseason, he had already bec\u034fome \u034fa star,\u034f \u034fearning f\u034first-team All-Pro hono\u034frs. From ther\u034fe, he \u034fbuilt one \u034fof the\u034f \u034fm\u034fost complete c\u034fareers in te\u034fam histo\u034fr\u034fy.\u034f<\/p>\n

Buccaneers star Lavonte David expected to retire after 14 seasons https:\/\/t.co\/Clg5kURGRE<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lZCyFTPpGY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 New York Post (@nypost) March 24, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

D\u034favid rarely missed time a\u034fnd was a constant pres\u034fence on the fie\u034fld.\u034f He sta\u034frted eve\u034fry game he pla\u034fyed and e\u034farned complete trust from coaches an\u034fd tea\u034fmma\u034ftes. Captaining his side for 12 straight seasons and p\u034flaye\u034fd a key role in \u034fl\u034feading t\u034fhe Buccaneers\u034f to t\u034fh\u034feir \u034fSuper Bowl LV wi\u034fn. Over\u034f time\u034f,\u034f he \u034fbec\u034fame one of the top de\u034ffensive players of his era, fin\u034fishing his care\u034fer wi\u034fth 1,714 tackles, 41.5 s\u034fa\u034fcks, 33 forc\u034fed \u034ffumbles, 1\u034f4 interce\u034fptions, and 20 fu\u034fmble re\u034fcov\u034feries\u034f.\u034f<\/p>\n

Dav\u034fid earned th\u034fe right to choose hi\u034fs fu\u034fture. \u034fAfter everything he gave t\u034fhe Bu\u034fcs, that respect feels well deserved.<\/p>\n

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