THE MOST UNDERRATED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF ALL TIME 🔥
After 14 NFL seasons, Buccaneers LB Lavonte David announced his retirement per @AdamSchefter
Congratulations @LavonteDavid54
What a legendary career for Lavonte David. He is the standard and without question a Hall of Famer in my book. Below is a highlight from every season he played in the NFL.
Derrick Brooks was my favorite player growing up. Once he retired following 08, I was playing GM for a few years to find his replacement. I would create a soon to be rookie player in Madden at the beginning of every offseason and put him on the Bucs lol. So in the spring of 2012, Nebraska Linebacker Lavonte David was that guy. As a fan, there was nobody in the draft I wanted more and I'll never forget the elation I felt when the Bucs drafted him. Here we are 14 years later and he exceeded every expectation and then some.
I'm stoked to see him in the Bucs Ring of Honor one day.
Hell of a career!
Congratulations, @LavonteDavid54 on an incredible 14‑year career! It was an honor to coach you in Tampa and watch you develop into one of the NFL’s most complete linebackers. A Super Bowl champion, true pro, and great example for young players everywhere. Enjoy retirement!
Coming This Fall 🎥
I AM THAT MAN chronicles the life of Lavonte David, one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history and a player who set the standard of Buccaneers football.
One of the absolute best to ever do it.
Yet because of the Bucs being a small market and the idiotic way Pro Bowl and All-Pro ballots are constructed, he was never awarded as such. Shame
Those who watch the games know.
#Bucs LB Lavonte David intercepted 14 passes in his 14 years in the NFL.
His first was against HOF QB Peyton Manning in 2012.
Video courtesy of FOX Sports.
Lavonte David only making one Pro Bowl and three All-Pros in his career is a travesty, and quite frankly I’d still put him in the Hall anyway.
Kuechly, Bobby, Lavonte. That’s the holy trinity for their generation.
We'll write a lot about Lavonte David's career in coming days, but the stat that always pops out to me: 177 career tackles for loss, tied for fourth most in NFL history, which is insane for a player whose primary job wasn't to rush the passer. Next closest LB? Urlacher with 138.
One of the greatest linebackers to ever play the game
Congratulations to my boy Lavonte David on a 14 year career
It’s been fun reminiscing thru the album