Bucs Rival Gives Rare Compliment to Star Defender

Bucs Rival Gives Rare Compliment to Star Defender originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have boasted some defensive talent since coming into the league in 1976. 

Names like Derrick Brooks, Cecil Johnson, Brad Culpepper, Warren Sapp, Shelton Quarles and Ronde Barber certainly come to mind.

But another player – an active one – should be mentioned in the same breath as those other legends, and that’s linebacker Lavonte David.

David is entering his 14th season and briefly contemplated retirement before re-signing a one-year, $9 million deal for 2025.

David has been vocal about contemplating retirement after completing a one-year deal with the Bucs in 2024. He remains one of the best defensive players on the team, and at age 35 is still playing at a high level.

That’s something the Bucs desperately need in 2025.

Since breaking into the league in 2023 with the Atlanta Falcons, running back Bijan Robinson has matched up personally against David twice per season. And he recently offered some praise to the Bucs linebacker.

“Lavonte David, you know, I respect the mess out of him,” Robinson said. “The dude is athletic, and he has not lost his athleticism.” Robinson continued. “On some routes, he’s still running with me, and I’m like, ‘Bro, how are you here? I was like five yards past you,’ and he just casually comes up. Every single time I play him, I have to study every move, instinct that he does.”

David posted 122 total tackles in 2024 with 76 solo, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception.

On a team that struggled to get pressure on the quarterback all season, David stood out. Now that he could be entering his final season in the league, he could have more to prove.

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.