Over a decade ago the Tampa Bay Buccaneers added one of the most important players who will ever wear the team’s uniform. Lavonte David is set to enter his 13th year in the league, and his goal of spending every season of his career with one team is that much closer to being accomplished.
Lucky for Bucs fans, that team continues to be Tampa Bay.
David has had three opportunities to leave and chase a ring elsewhere but has decided to return to the Buccaneers each time. He’s been vocal about wanting to join the likes of Ronde Barber and Derrick Brooks as players who spent their entire careers in Tampa Bay and it’s clear the feeling is mutual.
That might not be the only thing he ends up having in common with those guys. David has put together a Hall of Fame career, and while he’s often flown under the radar his talents have attracted all the right attention.
NFL legend J.J. Watt has serious praise for Lavonte David
NFL analyst Aaron Schatz highlighted Watt’s dominance, but the legend used the opportunity to shine a light on someone else. That person was Lavonte David, as Watt sent a crystal clear message about what he thinks of the Buccaneers icon.
Lavonte David criminally underrated. https://t.co/Nu4soHNfGv
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) April 7, 2025
No lies detected.
Buccaneers fans have long known that David is criminally underrated, right alongside Mike Evans who is in similar territory. It wasn’t until Tom Brady came to Tampa that Evans had a light on him that illuminated all that the things that have made him great, but it was finally bright enough for a national audience to take notice.
The same thing has happened to David over the years, as he’s been subjected to the same sort of thing that Evans has but plays a less visible position in terms of what fans tend to cling to. Even with that working against him, David has managed to stand out as one of the best players in the entire league — regardless of position — since he came into the NFL over a decade ago.
He’s embarking o his 13th season, and if last season was any indication he has plenty of gas left in the tank. It’s a journey that has fewer miles left on it that it used to, but David turned back the clocks last year and reminded everyone of just how good he can be.
Now he’ll look ot hand the torch to a new generation of linebacker. The Bucs are expected to draft his successor in a few weeks, and there are few players a rookie could benefit learning from more than David.
That’s the sweet spot Tampa Bay is in, and it’s nice to see that legends like J.J. Watt have taken notice of just how special things are right now — and always have been — with David.
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