His office has no door. No desk, no window, not even a faux wall.
His office has no door. No desk, no window, not even a faux wall.
Just a leather chair, some hangars and the same view as every other cubicle in the Raymond James Stadium locker room. It is the personal space of a working man, which suits Lavonte David in ways that outsiders could never fully understand.
The numbers suggest the accomplishments of a legend. Of an athlete deserving of a pedestal. One of six players in NFL history with at least 40 sacks, 30 forced fumbles and 20 fumble recoveries. The other five, by the way, are all in the Hall of Fame. His final tackle in Saturday’s 16-14 win against the Panthers tied him with Derrick Brooks — another Hall of Famer — for the most stops in Bucs history. Which is the type of company his career rubs shoulders with.
But that’s not why we’re talking about him today. It’s not why player after player stopped at his locker to embrace David on Saturday evening. In a league of outsized personalities and self-promoters, he is the equivalent of a wallflower. Soft-spoken and unpretentious.
He is not as corporate as Tom Brady, as audacious as Warren Sapp, as smooth as Ronde Barber, as cocky as Keyshawn Johnson. The story of Lavonte David in Tampa Bay is the story of a steady, sturdy and beloved heartbeat.
And it’s hard to imagine that Saturday’s game — the 215th of his career— could be the last time that a Bucs huddle is powered by the rhythm of that heart.
Standing in a group of reporters, tight end Cade Otton called David one of the best teammates he has ever been around. Later, after he finished dressing, I asked Otton what he meant by that.
“He sets the tone for everybody else,” Otton said. “He doesn’t act like he’s above anyone, he’s super personable, humble, confident and will literally talk with anybody in the locker room. He’s an amazing player and has been for a long time, but he’s an even more amazing person to be around.”
Yaya Diaby has been in the NFL for three seasons, but was still in middle school in Georgia when David’s NFL career began in 2012.
“He’s put his blood, sweat and tears into this organization from the highs to the lows, from when they were losing to winning a Super Bowl. He’s been through it all,” Diaby said. “And it’s because he loves the game. Man, he loves the game. He loves playing with us, and we love playing with him.”
Weeks away from his 36th birthday, the end is approaching for David. He said after Saturday’s game that he has not yet made up his mind about playing another season in 2026, but he talked like a man who understands that it’s better to leave the party before someone else turns out the lights.
There is a chance — if the Saints beat the Falcons on Sunday — that the Bucs will clinch the NFC South and David will get another chance to put on the helmet and shoulder pads for a playoff game at Raymond James.
That would be a gift for everyone involved, but it wouldn’t change the meaning of what took place Saturday. On a day when the Bucs absolutely needed a victory, an underperforming defense played one of its best games of the season. And when the Panthers were in position to make things sticky in the final minutes, David burst through the line and recovered a fumble by Panthers running back Rico Dowdle to shut down a scoring opportunity.
“He came out of nowhere to get that ball,” said Jason Pierre-Paul. “That’s Lavonte for you, right there.”
There were no special announcements, no orchestrated moments, no heartstrings for fans to grab onto. And, in a way, that’s fitting for a player who has never sought the limelight with abandon.
“It’s hard to describe but I was definitely walking through it with a smile on my face,” David said of the season finale. “Man, this kid from Miami, Florida, never thought I’d be here. I was just playing football to play football and got opportunities to be able to make it to the league and I seized it. That’s what I think about most. I just think about the support through that journey and people (who helped) since Day 1. I’m grateful, thankful.”
Facing his locker at he got dressed Saturday night, David seemed to sense a presence behind him.
He turned, and there was Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield waiting patiently with a Bud Lite in his hand. Mayfield gave David a gentle punch on the shoulder, and then the two embraced and whispered quietly to each other.
Was it farewell? Was it thank you? Was it see ya soon?
I couldn’t tell you, but it looked heartfelt.
Which, when it comes to Lavonte David, felt right.
John Romano can be reached at [email protected]. Follow @romano_tbtimes.
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Category: General Sports
