The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost Mike Evans when free agency began, and it appears another franchise legend is about to exit as well. Losing Evans wasn't an easy pill to swallow, and losing Lavonte David is just as bitter.
On Tuesday morning it was announced that there will be a press conference later that afternoon with David. Fans don't want to believe it, they don't want to hear it, but they know it's coming. David's time with the Buccaneers, a long 14-year career, is likely coming to an end.
Bucs will have a press conference at 2 today involving linebacker Lavonte David. No specifics but all signs point to him announcing his retirement after 14 seasons in Tampa.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) March 24, 2026
Lavonte David is expected to announce his retirement from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It will be a much different look on the field next season. For many players, dwindling stats, losing their jobs to a younger draft pick, or injuries tend to lead them to retirement. David has none of those. He has a hold on the starting job and started all 17 games last year.
What's more impressive than being in year 14 and still starting? He has only had two seasons in which he had fewer than 100 combined tackles. The last one was in 2021. In 2025, he posted 3.5 sacks. David has been stellar from the start and is now leaving the NFL, presumably, on his own terms. He deserves it; he earned it.
The Buccaneers will need to fill a hole that they knew would eventually open. Over the last couple of seasons there has been rumblings that David was close to calling it quits, but he kept churning out more sacks, more tackles, and more seasons.
David, like Evans, has seen both the worst and the best of times. They won a Super Bowl in 2020 and appeared in the playoffs another four seasons after, but they failed to get in last season.
David's legacy will transcend the city of Tampa; he is an NFL future Hall of Famer. Statistically, he measures up with Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, and Zach Thomas. He should land in the HOF in the class of 2030.
The Bucs signed Alex Anzalone during free agency to a one-year deal. With David now likely gone, Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom will need to step up and fill that void. It also opens up the door for Georgia's C.J. Allen or Anthony Hill on day two.