Tom Brady pays tribute to 'one-of-a-kind' Super Bowl winner Lavonte David after he announced retirement at 36
Tom Brady heaped praise on former teammate Lavonte David after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend announced his retirement.
David spent 14 seasons with Tampa Bay and won Super Bowl LV alongside Brady back in 2020. On Tuesday, the 36-year-old confirmed his career was over and afterwards Brady paid tribute to the linebacker.
'An amazing teammate, and friend,' Brady wrote on Instagram. 'I'm so proud of you. What a career... truly, one of a kind.'
David joined the Buccaneers in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft. He racked up 225 appearances and set franchise records for tackles for loss (177), forced fumbles (33) and fumble recoveries (21).
The 36-year-old also ranks first in solo tackles (1,171) since entering the NFL in 2012.
At the end of his 14th and final year, the Bucs announced their legendary player's retirement in a heartfelt statement on Tuesday.
Tom Brady praised Lavonte David after the Buccaneers icon announced his retirement
'An amazing teammate, and friend... I'm so proud of you,' Brady wrote on Instagram
'For the past 14 seasons, Lavonte David has personified what it means to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer,' the Glazer family, which has owned the team since 1995, said.
'He was a selfless leader both on and off the field, playing with passion and a genuine love for the game.
'He leaves a legacy as a Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest players in franchise history, setting a standard that will continue to impact our organization for years to come.'
David formally announced his retirement at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon.
He told reporters: 'Fourteen years of playing football, to come to this moment, I never thought I'd be in this situation. I never thought I'd be here.'
David was overcome with emotion as he paid tribute to his late parents. His mother, Lynette, died from diabetes complications in 2016 at the age of 56.
Five years later, his father, Edward, passed away at the age of 70 after a battle with liver disease - just months after he won the Super Bowl.
'I'm a little emotional, because that's how I always get when I talk about my parents. Everybody has parents man, but you don't understand how much they meant to me,' he said before bursting into tears.
The linebacker was a member of the Super Bowl-winning side led by Brady in 2020
'Thinking about my dad, the sacrifices he made,' David continued. 'He was never the breadwinner in our family, but for some reason him and my mum made it work, and their relationship lasted so long. And when you saw how they was compatible with each other and how they made our lives easier...
'We had one car, my mum took the car to work, and my dad used to take me to practice on his handlebars on a bike. We used to walk sometimes. And as a kid you're like, "Damn... that walk's a far walk!"
'But you realize it's a sacrifice you've got to make to help your son's and kid's dreams come true.'
He then added about Tampa Bay: 'Thank you guys so much. I'll love the Krewe forever, the fans... you guys are amazing, you guys are incredible. You guys were always my motivation.
'You'd wake me up in the morning and keep me going to be able to play the game at a high level for this long, you guys were a part of that. End of the day, I'll always be a Buccaneer and it's always Bucs for life.'
The former Nebraska college star was selected by Tampa Bay with the 58th overall pick in 2012. He immediately became a key member of the Bucs defense but had to wait nine seasons to reach the postseason.
When he finally got there, David claimed his first and only championship ring when they got the better of the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LV.
After that historic night in Tampa, he and the Bucs clinched four consecutive NFC South titles from 2021-24.
The Pro Bowler got his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy after their win at Super Bowl LV
David is one of just four players in NFL history to record 40 career sacks, 30 forced fumbles and 10 interceptions.
'Today, we celebrate Lavonte's legendary career as one of the most accomplished players of his era and thank him for the many memorable moments he provided our fans,' the Glazer family's statement continued.
'Beyond the statistics and accolades, he will be remembered throughout Tampa Bay for his humble demeanor and strong commitment to our community.
'We wish him well on his journey after football and look forward to honoring his Hall of Fame-worthy achievements in the near future.'
