Super Bowl champion, Buccaneers great Lavonte David retires after 14 seasons: 'God is amazing'

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Lavonte David announced his retirement on Tuesday at a press conference.

David, 36, spent 14 seasons with the Buccaneers and was the team’s longest-tenured player, including being a key member of their Super Bowl-winning team. He spent 12 seasons as a captain.

 "I just want to start off by saying, man, ‘God is amazing.’ 14 years of football, to come to this moment, I never thought I’d be in this situation. I never thought I’d be here," David said.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File)

Since David entered the NFL in 2012, he leads the league in solo tackles (1,171) while having the second-most tackles for loss (177) in that span. He is one of three players to record 40-plus sacks and 35-plus takeaways in his career. Pro Football Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher are the other two.

David said he played football for the "fun of it, for the love of it." He called his career a journey.

"Every time I stepped on the field I wanted to prove myself right, and all my doubters wrong."

David got emotional talking about his late parents and the sacrifices they made for him.

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FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) with his family before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Oct. 26, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall, File)

"Growing up where I grew up, it