All Pro & Super Bowl Champion Makes Shocking Retirement Announcement Ahead Of The Draft
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The NFL offseason is not only for new beginnings in the league, but also for sad goodbyes. Several players wait until after free agency to make a final call on their careers, as the decision is not always easy.
On Tuesday, a 12-time team captain announced his retirement from the league after 14 seasons. Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Lavonte David shared his decision at a news conference at the AdventHealth Training Center auditorium.
David entered the league in 2012. He ranked first in solo tackles (1,171) and second in tackles for a loss (177) over that span. He spent his entire career with the Buccaneers, a team he helped win Super Bowl LV in 2020.
Lavonte David Announces Retirement With Emotional Story
Buccaneers beat writer Rick Stroud shared on Tuesday that David announced his retirement in a Sports Illustrated story.
“It’s time,” David said. “I’ve been playing football since I was 6 years old. Thirty years straight of football. I never missed a year. A lot of time, man. When it’s time, when you know, you know. I always wanted to be a guy who wanted to retire on my own terms. Right now is the perfect opportunity for that. I give glory to God for me to be able to play football for this long.
“For me, man, 14 years [in the NFL] is enough. I’m comfortable with my decision. I’m satisfied with my career. When I first got into the league, I never, never, ever in a million years expected to play 14 years at a high level for the same organization. And it’s something that doesn’t come around often. I think it’s time that I hang it up and let the next generation of players come in and take over the game.”
He posted 41.5 sacks, 32 forced fumbles and 14 interceptions in his career. David left the league as one of four players in league history with 40 career sacks, 30 forced fumbles and 10 interceptions.
