Buccaneers legendary linebacker Lavonte David joined Will Compton and Taylor Lewan on the “Bussin’ with the Boys” podcast to reflect on his prolific 14-year career in Tampa Bay. The recent retiree has begun the process of reflection as the page turns to his life after football.
"Now that I am actually out of it, I can actually sit back and see and understand what I have done," said David. "Now, I can sit back and bask on what I have done and it is pretty f** cool bro. I can really sit back and say that the years that I played, I was pretty dominant when I played the game so I am patting myself on the back for that."
Throughout his illustrious career in Tampa Bay, David accumulated 14 interceptions, 73 passes defensed, 33 forced fumbles, 21 fumble recoveries, 42.5 sacks, 1,714 combined tackles, 1,172 solo tackles, 177 tackles for loss and 79 quarterback hits. David is one of two players since tackles began being tracked in 1994 with 1,500-plus tackles, 40.0-plus sacks and 10-plus interceptions, joining Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. Additionally, he is one of four players to record at least 40.0-plus sacks, 30-plus forced fumbles and 10-plus interceptions alongside Julius Peppers, Mo Lewis and Greg Lloyd. Prior to his retirement, David was also the NFL's active career leader in solo tackles (1,171) and he ranked second in total tackles, tackles for loss (177), interceptions among linebackers, and passes defensed among linebackers (73).
The tackling technician not only had a knack for blowing up screens and covering tight ends over the middle of the field, but for flying downhill with proper angles to disrupt with elite diagnosis skills. He hit double digits in tackles for loss in 10 of his 14 seasons, including 21 in 2013 and 20 in 2012. His 177 career tackles for loss are tied for the third most in NFL history since 1999, according to StatsPass. David is the only player in the top-20 of that list that was not an edge or a defensive lineman, putting the off-ball linebacker in a heralded class of his own creation. His imprint on the field is worthy of immortalization in Canton.
"Of course I should get some type of votes to get in but the way that it is looking and the way that it really is, they are going to go off of Pro Bowls and All-Pros and stuff like that but if you really just sit down and watch football and study film, I really think it should go off that," described David. "I think I should be up there because my stats speak for themselves."
Throughout his career, David criminally only received one Pro Bowl nod, largely due to pass-rushing outside linebackers being part of his voting category through the majority of his career. David was a first-team Associated Press All-Pro in 2013 – the ultimate recognition – but did not get a slot in the all-star game. In that same season, David achieved an otherworldly statline. He posted five interceptions, 10 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, 7.0 sacks, 145 combined tackles (107 solo), 21 tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits. That year, Luke Kuechly – one of the best to have ever played the position and a well-deserved Hall of Famer – won Defensive Player of the Year, despite David surpassing him in solo tackles, sacks, tackles for loss, interceptions, passes defensed, forced fumbles and quarterback hits. The Bucs' underrated player was not only a Pro Bowl snub that year but was not even included in the Defensive Player of the Year voting, likely due to the Bucs finishing with a 4-12 record, last in the NFC South. David became the picture of efficiency and durability throughout his captivating career, electrifying the intensity within the Bucs' defense. He left an indelible mark on the game that many after will strive to chase, worthy of enshrinement in the Hall.
