Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David is retiring after 14 seasons with Tampa Bay

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Lavonte David is retiring after playing all 14 seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

David made the announcement Tuesday at the team’s practice facility.

“I feel it’s time to move on and find a different path in life, be a dad to that amazing little girl over there,” David said. “Having a girl helped me become a man, helped me understand what’s important in life.”

The 36-year-old linebacker was the heart and soul of Tampa Bay’s defense, helping the Buccaneers win a Super Bowl by dominating Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 on Feb. 7, 2021.

David is one of only five players in the past 35 seasons with 40 or more sacks and 35 or more takeaways. Hall of Famers Jason Taylor, Junior Seau, Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher are the other four.

David finished tied with Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks for the most tackles (1,714) in franchise history, according to team stats. David is the franchise record holder in forced fumbles (33) and fumble recoveries (21), third in games played (215) and games started (215) and fifth in sacks (42 1/2). Additionally, David holds the franchise playoff records for total tackles (79) and solo tackles (57).

“Lavonte’s mark on our franchise could never be overstated,” Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said. “For the entirety of his 14-year career, Lavonte set the standard for professionalism, leadership and consistency. He embodies everything that it means to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer and he is undoubtedly one of the best players to ever put on this uniform. His contributions to our franchise, to his teammates and to this community will leave an impact far beyond his playing years.”

A second-round pick out of Nebraska in 2012, David was a first-team All-Pro in 2013 and made the second team in 2016 and 2020. He made the Pro Bowl in 2015 and missed just 14 games in 14 years.

David choked up talking about his parents and the sacrifices they made for him and his siblings, saying his dad would take him to practice on a bicycle because his mom needed the family car for work.

He said he almost quit football when his mother passed away in 2016.

“The day she passed away, I thought I lost it all,” David said. “Luckily, I had friends and family by my side.”

The Buccaneers signed veteran linebackers Alex Anzalone and Christian Rozeboom in free agency, providing depth in advance of David’s departure.

David’s decision marks the end of another era in Tampa Bay. Six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans left the Buccaneers after 12 seasons, signing with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.

Both David and Evans were fan and coach favorites, team leaders and staples in the community throughout their tenure with the team.

Several of his teammates and members of the organization filled the auditorium for David’s announcement.

“For the past 14 seasons, Lavonte David has personified what it means to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. 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,” The Glazer Family, owners of the Buccaneers, said in a statement. “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. 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.”

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Lavonte David speaks as he announces his retirement during an NFL football news conference, Tuesday, March 24, 2026 in Tampa. (Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Lavonte David becomes emotional while talking about his parents as he announces his retirement during an NFL football news conference, Tuesday, March 24, 2026 in Tampa. (Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David breaks up a pass intended for Carolina Panthers tight end Feleipe Franks during the first half of an NFL football game, Dec. 1, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones, File)

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy during a celebration of the team's Super Bowl 55 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Feb. 10, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) with his family before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Oct. 26, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Ella Hall, File)

UTICA, N.Y. (AP) — A former upstate New York prison guard on trial in the death of an inmate repeatedly stomped on the man's during a brutal beating by a group of guards, a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday.

Jonah Levi, who has been charged with murder, was the first guard to go on trial after 10 were indicted last April in connection with death of Messiah Nantwi at Mid-State Correctional Facility on March 1, 2025 — a time when the state prison system was reeling from a wildcat strike.

Prosecutors said Nantwi, 22, suffered 69 separate body blows from guards who used their fists, boots and batons in a series of beatings. A witness testified Tuesday that Nantwi was bloodied and making noises in distress after being pummeled in his room.

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick told jurors in his opening statement that investigators collected DNA evidence from boots taken from Levi and a second guard facing a top charge of second-degree murder.

“With utter depravity and recklessness, you will hear eyewitness testimony that Jonah Levi multiple times stomped Messiah Nantwi on the head. And pathetically, his brother officers did nothing,” said Fitzpatrick, the special prosecutor.

Nantwi died due to massive head trauma and other injuries to his body from the beatings, according to prosecutors.

Levi's attorney, Lewis G. Spicer, told the jury that the use of force that morning was justified given Nantwi's aggressive behavior. He said Levi did not use any force that resulted in Nantwi's death.

“Mr. Levi was doing everything he was supposed to do,” Spicer said.

Nantwi's death came several months after Robert Brooks was fatally beaten at a separate prison just across the road from Mid-State. Prisoner advocates say the two beatings illustrated a culture of violence by guards at New York prisons.

His death also came as New York prisons were struggling to function during a three-week wildcat strike by guards upset over working conditions, which forced the governor to send in National Guard troops.

Levi was part of an emergency response team called to Nantwi’s room to help National Guard members who sought backup after Nantwi was uncooperative with a bedside prisoner headcount.

Nicholas Mouzon, a National Guard member working that day, testified that Nantwi would not leave a shower area to be counted, repeatedly saying, “What if I don't want to?” But Nantwi instantly calmed down once backup was called for, he said.

Several corrections officers who responded to the call began beating Nantwi in his room after he refused to be handcuffed and grabbed a guard’s vest, authorities said. The beatings intensified after Nantwi bit a guard's hand, prosecutors claim.

“He’s dead because he protested cuffing up and because he tried to bite someone's finger,” Fitzpatrick said.

Mouzon said he had a limited view from outside the room, but saw a guard standing on Nantwi's calves and striking his feet with a baton. He later saw Nantwi being carried out.

“His eyes were closed. He was making — best way I can describe it — aggravated dog noises. He was growling,” Mouzon said.

Prosecutors say guards falsely claimed a makeshift knife had been recovered as part of a cover-up effort.

Lewis told the jury that prosecutors offered an “extremely sanitized” version of events. Nantwi, who was high on synthetic marijuana, was the initial aggressor, Spicer said.

“You're going to hear him fighting back,” Spicer said.

While Brooks’ beating months earlier was captured on body cameras, video footage will likely play less of a role in this trial. Prosecutors say some guards involved in Nantwi’s death were not wearing mandated body cameras, or turned them off, or looked the other way.

Besides murder, Levi also has been charged with first-degree manslaughter, first-degree gang assault, second-degree gang assault, fifth-degree conspiracy and first-degree offering a false instrument for file.

Levi is first guard to face a jury in the case. More than half a dozen others have pleaded guilty to lesser charges related to the incident and the alleged cover-up.

Nantwi entered the state prison system in May 2024 and had been serving a five-year sentence for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon related to an exchange of gunfire with police officers in 2021. He was shot multiple times, while the officers were uninjured.

Prosecutors in Manhattan say Nantwi shot and killed Jaylen Duncan, 19, on a Harlem street in April 2023. The following evening, they say, he shot and killed Brandon Brunson, 36, at a Harlem smoke shop after an argument.

FILE - The Mid-State Correctional Facility is seen on April 16, 2025, in Marcy, N.Y. (AP Photo/Michael Hill, File)