Selected by Tampa Bay in the second round (58th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.
2013 AP All-Pro First-Team Selection.
2x AP All-Pro Second-Team Selection (2016, 2020)
NFC Defensive Player Of The Month (September 2020).
2x NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 12, 2013; Week 10, 2015).
2020 ESPN All-Pro Selection
USA Today All-Joe Team (2012, 2013).
2012 PFW/PFWA All-Rookie Team.
NFC Defensive Rookie Of The Month (November 2012).
Has started all 181 regular season games that he has played, totaling 1,478 tackles (160 for loss), 67 quarterback hits, 64 passes defensed, 33.5 sacks, 12 interceptions (two returned for touchdown), 28 forced fumbles, 18 fumble recoveries (one returned for touchdown) and one safety.
Started nine playoff games, recording 71 tackles (six for loss), four passes defensed, three quarterback hits, 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Ranks second in team history with 1,478 tackles and eighth in team history with 33.5 sacks.
His 181 starts are the fourth-most in Buccaneers franchise history while his 181 games played are the fifth-most in team history.
Joined Ray Lewis as only players in NFL history to record 1,000 tackles, 20.0 sacks and 10 interceptions through their first eight seasons.
Selected to NFL.com's 2010s All- Decade Team.
Has served as Buccaneers Captain from 2014-23.
Has led the Buccaneers in tackles in nine times (2012-15, 2017-19, 2022-23) and tackles for loss six times (2012-16, 2023).
Ranks first the NFL in solo tackles (1,033), second in total tackles (1,478), and is third in tackles for loss (160) among all NFL players since entering the league in 2012.
Since 2000, David's 10 seasons with 100+ tackles are third-most in the NFL, trailing only London Fletcher (14) and Bobby Wagner (11).
David has four career seasons with 100+ tackles and 15+ tackles for loss — the most in the NFL since tackle for loss data became available in 2008.
David is credited with 30 takeaways (12 interceptions, 18 fumble recoveries), tied for 14th-most in the NFL since 2012 and the most by any front-seven player.
One of only two players in the NFL with at least 1,000 tackles, 20.0 sacks and 10 interceptions since the start of the 2012 season (also Bobby Wagner).
Ranks fourth in the league in forced fumbles since 2014 with 26, trailing only Chandler Jones (30), Khalil Mack (30) and T.J. Watt (27).
His 18 career fumble recoveries are a Buccaneers franchise record.
Since 2012, ranks tied for fifth among NFL linebackers in interceptions with 12 and tied for fifth among linebackers with two interceptions returned for touchdowns, while ranking second among active linebackers in passes defensed (64). Also during that span, ranks fourth among all players with 28 forced fumbles and first with 18 opponent fumble recoveries.
Has scored 20 points (3 TDs, 1 safety) since entering the league in 2012, tied for the 11th-most among all front- seven players. Since start of 2015 season (when David scored his first touchdown), ranks tied for 22nd among all defensive players and tied for sixth among all front seven players in return touchdowns with three.
Since joining Tampa Bay in 2012, has helped lead a defense that ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (102.4), is first in yards per rush (4.00) and is third in takeaways in the NFL (304).
Tampa Bay's 2020 defense led the league in rushing yards allowed per game (80.6) and yards allowed per rush (3.60), while ranking sixth in yards allowed per play (5.12), sixth in yards allowed per game (327.1), ranking tied for second in tackles for loss (91), tied for fourth in sacks (48.0) and tied for fifth in takeaways (25).
His five fumble recoveries in 2017 are a Buccaneers single-season franchise record.
A key contributor on the Buccaneers defense in 2019, which led the league in rushing yards allowed and opposing rushing average.
Recorded first fumble recovery return touchdown when he stripped Larry Fitzgerald, scooped the football and continued 21 yards for the score, at Arizona (10/15/17).
In 2016, tied for NFL lead, and most among linebackers, with 17 tackles for loss.
Garnered Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro honors following the 2016 season.
Named to first Pro Bowl following the 2015 season when he ranked third in the league in tackles (147) and added three sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 13 passes defensed (most among NFL linebackers).
Named Associated Press All-Pro First-Team following 2013 season when he ranked fifth in the NFL in both tackles (143) tackles and interceptions (5). Added a safety, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and 10 passes defensed
Tied for league lead with 14.5 run stuffs in 2013, according to STATS, Inc., and ranked third in the NFL in tackles for loss (20), behind Robert Quinn and J.J. Watt.
Ranked by Pro Football Focus as the No. 1 run stuffing outside linebacker and finished with the third-most quarterback pressures (sacks, QB hits, hurries) at the position.
Only NFL player with 125+ tackles and 6+ sacks in 2013.
In 2013, became only the second player since 1982 to record at least 7.0 sacks and five interceptions in the same season (S Dave Duerson).
In 2012, led the Buccaneers in tackles as a rookie, posting 139 tackles, tied for the seventh-most in the NFL. Also posted 112 solo tackles, the second- most in the league.
Named to USA Today's All-Joe Team in both 2012 & 2013.
Selected to PFW/PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2012.
Only linebacker in Buccaneers history with two multiple-interception games.
Scored first career touchdown on a 20-yard interception return (Mark Sanchez) in win at Philadelphia (11/22/15).
Registered his first career interception (Peyton Manning) at Denver (12/2/12).
Notched his first career sack vs. Philadelphia (12/9/12).
Started in his NFL debut against Carolina (9/9/12).
In his 12th NFL season, David was the lone player in the NFL in 2023 with 100+ tackles, 15+ tackles for loss and 3.0+ sacks.
David recorded 17 tackles for loss in 2023, tied for the seventh-most in the NFL. His 17 tackles for loss were the second-most in a single season by a player age 33 or older since TFL data became available in 2008. He trailed only J.J. Watt's 18 in 2022.
Logged 61 defensive snaps in the Week 1 victory at Minnesota, finishing with eight tackles (two for loss).
Was one of just eight players with eight- or-more tackles and two-or-more tackles for loss in Week 1.
In the Week 2 victory over Chicago, played all 53 defensive snaps and finished with two tackles. Contributed to a defense that limited the Bears to just 236 yards of total offense.
In Week 3 vs. Philadelphia, played all 78 defensive snaps and finished with a team-high 13 tackles and 1.0 sack.
It marked his 44th career double-digit tackle game since entering the league in 2012, third-most in the NFL over that span and second-most among active players.
David's 13 tackles in Week 3 marked his most in a single game since 11/14/2021 at Washington (14).
His Week 3 performance marked his first career game with 13-or-more tackles plus at least 1.0 sack. He became the fourth player to accomplish the feat during the 2023 season.
In the Week 4 victory at New Orleans, played all 65 defensive snaps and finished with five tackles.
In Week 6 vs. Detroit, played all 70 defensive snaps and finished with a team-high 12 tackles (two for loss), 1.0 sack, one quarterback hit and one pass defensed. He became the first player to reach that stat line (or better) since Arizona's Budda Baker in Week 16 of the 2021 season. It marked the second time David had recorded that stat line (or better) in a game, joining Week 15 of the 2014 season against the Carolina
Panthers.
David's pass defensed in Week 6 gave him 60 career passes defensed, second- most among active linebackers at the time.
Logged a team-high 13 tackles (one for loss) and one pass defensed in Week 7 vs. Atlanta. It marked the third time through the first six weeks of the season that David led the Buccaneers in tackles.
Recorded his 149th career tackle for loss in Week 7, tied for second most among active players since the beginning of the 2012 season, trailing only L.A. Rams' Aaron Donald (168).
In Week 8 at Buffalo, played all 69 defensive snaps and finished with a team- high 14 tackles (one for loss). His tackle for loss was the 150th of his career, fifth-most among all active players.
David's 14 tackles in Week 8 were his most since he tallied 14 on Nov. 14, 2021 at Washington.
David's Week 8 performance marked his third straight game with double-digit tackles — no Buccaneers player had recorded a longer streak since Kwon Alexander in 2015.
In Week 9 at Houston, David played 71-of-72 defensive snaps and finished with a team-high 11 tackles (two for loss) and one forced fumble. It marked the fifth time in the first nine weeks of the season that David has led the Buccaneers in tackles.
Across four games from Weeks 5-9, David recorded 10-or-more tackles and at least one tackle for loss in each game, becoming the first player to record such a streak since himself in 2014. The last player other than David to accomplish the feat was Pro Football Hall of Famer Zach Thomas in 2005.
Through nine weeks, David ranked ninth in the NFL in tackles (78) and tackles for loss (nine).
In the Week 10 victory over Tennessee, played all 63 defensive snaps and finished with five tackles (two for loss) and one pass defensed.
David's Week 10 performance marked his fifth consecutive game with a tackle for a loss, the longest such streak by a Buccaneer since Jason Pierre-Paul in 2018.
In Week 11 at San Francisco, played 43-of-60 defensive snaps and finished with seven tackles (three for loss) and 1.0 sack.
In Week 11, David surpassed Hall of Famer Rondé Barber for the second-most tackles in Buccaneers history, trailing only Derrick Brooks (2,198). He finished the game with 1,435 career tackles.
David's milestone tackle came on an 11- yard sack of 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. It marked David's third sack of the season and improved his career total to 32.0. Through 11 Weeks, David's 3.0 sacks marked his most in a single season since he recorded 3.5 in 2018.
David's Week 11 performance marked his third straight game with multiple tackles for loss, matching the longest streak by any Buccaneers player since Geno Hayes did so in five straight games in 2009. His five games with multiple tackles for loss were the most such games in the NFL through 11 Weeks.
In Week 11, David recorded his sixth straight game with at least one tackle for loss — no Tampa Bay player had recorded a longer-such streak within a season since Jason Pierre-Paul in 2018 (seven games).
From Weeks 6-11, David recorded 11 tackles for loss. At the time, his 11 tackles for loss were the most by any player over a six-game span in the 2023 season.
Was inactive for Week 12 at Indianapolis and the Week 13 victory over Carolina.
In the Week 14 victory over Atlanta, played all 72 defensive snaps and finished with six tackles and one pass defensed.
Played all 60 defensive snaps in the Week 15 victory at Green Bay, logging nine tackles (two for loss), one quarterback hit, one pass defensed and 0.5 sacks.
David surpassed the 100-tackle milestone in Week 15, marking the 10th time he has done so in a season. He joined London Fletcher (14) and Bobby Wagner (11) as the only players to accomplish that feat 10-or-more times since 2000.
In Week 15, David also notched his fourth career season with 100+ tackles and 15-or-more tackles for loss. At the time, no other player had recorded more than two-such seasons since tackles for loss became regularly tracked in 2006. Through 15 weeks, David's six games with multiple tackles for loss were tied for the third-most in the NFL.
In the Week 16 victory over Jacksonville, played all 66 defensive snaps and recorded a team-leading eight tackles (one for loss), 1.0 sack and one quarterback hit.
With his sack in Week 16, David improved his career total to 33.5 and surpassed both Jason Pierre-Paul and Brad Culpepper (33.0) to move into eighth in franchise history in sacks.
David's sack in Week 16 also increased his season total to 4.5 on the year — his most in a single season since recording 5.0 during the 2016 season.
Played all 70 defensive snaps in Week 17 vs. New Orleans, finishing with a team-high 11 tackles. It marked his sixth game with double-digit tackles.
In the Week 18 victory over Carolina, played 49-of-52 defensive snaps and recorded nine tackles. Contributed to a defense that recorded Tampa Bay's first shutout since Nov. 21, 2010 at San Francisco.
In the Wild Card round victory over Philadelphia, started at linebacker and recorded five tackles (two for loss) and one forced fumble. His two tackles for loss marked a new postseason single-game high.
With his five tackles in the Wild Card win over the Eagles, David (58) surpassed Shelton Quarles (55) for the second- most postseason tackles in club history, trailing only Derrick Brooks (93).
In the Divisional round contest against Detroit, he played all 73 defensive snaps and recorded a team-high 13 tackles (two
for loss), one quarterback hit and 1.0 sack.
With his performance in the Divisional round, David moved into second place in tackles in club postseason history (71). He also moved into second place in tackles for loss (six) and moved into seventh place in sacks (2.0).
Started all 27 games he played in at Nebraska (2010-11), recording 285 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, two interceptions, 12 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered.
In 2011, earned first-team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association, CBS and ESPN.
Also earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades (coaches, media, ESPN.com, Yahoo.com, Phil Steele).
Was a finalist for the Butkus Award (Top Linebacker), semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award (Top Defensive Player) and semifinalist for the Lott Trophy (Top Defensive IMPACT Player) in 2011.
Named the 2011 Butkus-Fitzgerald Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and Nebraska team MVP.
2011 Guy Chamberlin Award Winner for his play and contributions to the betterment of the University of Nebraska football team.
As a senior, led Nebraska with 133 tackles and ranked third in the Big Ten in tackles per game.
Also led Nebraska in tackles for loss (13.0), sacks (5.5), interceptions (2), forced fumbles (2) and fumble recoveries (2) in 2011.
In 2010, set school record with 152 tackles.
His 285 career tackles rank fourth in school history, and most by a two-year player.
Recorded a career-high 19 tackles in one game against South Dakota State, the seventh-most in school history.
Was named first-team All-American (Rivals.com and CBS), unanimous first-team Big 12 and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, as selected by the coaches, in 2010.
Prior to his time at Nebraska, led Fort Scott Community College (Fort Scott, Kansas) to the Junior College National Championship Game, while ranking among the conference's leaders in tackles and tackles for loss.
Was named Defensive MVP of the JUCO National Championship Game.
Two-time first-team All-Jayhawk Conference selection and a Region VI All-American in 2009.
During his first season at Fort Scott, led the Jayhawk Conference with 93 tackles.
Majored in criminology and criminal justice.
In 2020, supported Big Brothers, Big Sisters as part of the NFL's My Cause, My Cleats initiative.
David participated in the 7th Annual Cut for a Cure with the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation and helped raise $100,000.
As a national ambassador for Big Brother Big Sister, Lavonte hosted his 4th annual bowling event benefiting the organization in 2019.
David coordinated with teammates to help donate weekly meals from local businesses to Metropolitan Ministries, helping feed those in need during COVID-19.
In October 2016, joined teammates and the entire Buccaneers business operations staff for the team's "Hometown Huddle," helping to refurbish the Sulphur Springs K-8 School and Community Center and interact with students.
In June 2016, was named a national ambassador and BIG Champion for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, with the mission of creating more matches between children and caring, adult mentors across the United States.
In May 2016, helped dedicate a Buccaneers Academy at Bevis Elementary School, which was awarded a Fitness Zone and also presented with a special assembly and P.E. equipment for winning the 2016 Play 60 Challenge.
In November 2015 and 2016, hosted a bowling event to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay.
In July 2015, hosted his inaugural free backpack and school supply donation to youth in his hometown of Miami, FL.
In June 2015, had his head shaved by children battling cancer as part of the Buccaneers Cut for a Cure to raise funds and awareness for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.
Paired up with United Way volunteers and students to install a "Learning Garden" at Edison Elementary in October 2013 and at Davis Elementary in September 2015.
Led students through football drills and promoted the importance of health and fitness for the opening of Buccaneers Academy Fitness Zones at Foster Elementary in September 2012 and Sulphur Springs Elementary in December 2012.
As a member of the Buccaneers Rookie Club in 2012, visited youth at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg and sang holiday carols to residents at Westminster Palms retirement home, visited MacDill Air Force Base to thank civilian workers and active duty military for their service, helped host a lunch for service members at Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater and visited veterans recovering from injury and illness at Bay Pines VA Hospital, hosted an educational scavenger hunt for children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay at Busch Gardens Tampa, and greeted patients at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in May 2012.
Volunteered time while at Nebraska with team hospital visits and the Husker Heroes program.
Attended Northwestern High School (Miami, Florida).
Won back-to-back Florida state titles in 2006 and 2007, while finishing with undefeated records both years.
Son of the late Lynette David.
Born Lavonte David on January 23, 1990, in Miami, Florida.
