Lavonte David ‘almost left’ Buccaneers after Tom Brady’s retirement, but NFC South title changed his mind

Lavonte David is about to play his 13th NFL season.

Lavonte David ‘almost left’ Buccaneers after Tom Brady’s retirement, but NFC South title changed his mind

Lavonte David almost left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after Tom Brady's retirement, but playoff push convinced him to stay (Images via Imago)

Lavonte David has been one of the best linebackers in the NFL ever since he stepped onto the gridiron. In these 12 years, he has been an All-Pro and also won the Super Bowl alongside Tom Brady. But after Brady retired in 2023, David thought of following his quarterback and hanging up his cleats. However, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning the NFC South and going into the playoffs stopped him.

Speaking with reporters after the mandatory minicamp, the de facto leader of the Buccaneers was candid about this past season. He revealed that retirement was initially on the agenda.

Maybe. Or I would’ve moved on, just to be honest with you. But I’m happy I made the decision I made. Just being here, all the talent that we had, especially all the guys that came in, some Hall of Fame and All-Pro Players that we had, I definitely thought that a title was going to come real soon but I just didn’t know what was the issue, what was going on and things like that.
Lavonte David said per Tampa Bay Times

He then added that them being in the playoffs made him change his decision. David explained that his love for football and confidence in his ability to play at a high level made it easy to return for another season.

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Honestly, it didn't take long. So, I definitely still love the game of football. I still want to play and I still feel like I’m playing at a high level. I still feel like I can compete with the best and obviously the organization felt the same way. It was a no brainer for me to come back. I’m definitely looking forward to another great season.
Lavonte David added

David’s exploits as a linebacker has seen him take on the best of the best in the game. Often considered one of the best cover linebackers in the NFL, his instincts and ability to read offenses have helped the Buccaneers excel.

But after playing 12 years, time was at a premium for David. As Tom Brady retired, he thought he either had to move to another team to win another Super Bowl, or just retire. Thankfully for the Buccaneers, he chose neither.

Lavonte David and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are optimistic

After Tom Brady retired, it was natural for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to fall off the cliff. However, they signed Baker Mayfield and finished with a 9-8 record last season. But more importantly, they beat the usually Super Bowl bound Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round before ultimately losing in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

Lavonte David is optimistic about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' chances in the playoffs
Lavonte David is optimistic about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ chances in the playoffs (Image via Imago)

However, that brings optimism to the franchise who were almost on the verge of undergoing a complete rebuild. Not only have they resigned key players, but also have brought in reinforcements. Those differences could help them avoid the single digit losses they encountered last season. That, in itself, is expected to help them move the needle.

Lavonte David and his leadership will again be crucial. Although the Buccaneers aren’t seemingly Super Bowl ready yet, it might not take them long before they find the next gear come playoff time.

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