The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had two of the longest tenured players in franchise history in Mike Evans and Lavonte David. General manager Jason Licht has already lost Evans in this free agency. Now, he understands he cannot afford a similar situation on the defensive side with David. That is why the team is hoping the 36-year-old linebacker returns for the 2026 season.

According to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, Licht said that David has not yet informed the team about his decision regarding a 15th season. Licht, however, has made it clear that the door remains open and that the Buccaneers are willing to give David all the time he needs, per Laine.

That approach makes sense given the uncertainty around his future. Ever since Tampa Bay missed the playoffs in 2025, David’s status has felt increasingly unclear.

At this point, it is difficult to read where he stands. A former second-round pick at No. 58 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, David has spent his entire 14-year career in Tampa. During that time, he has recorded 1,716 tackles, 42.5 sacks, and 177 tackles for loss across 215 games.

Following the 2025 season, there was a strong sense that retirement could be the more likely outcome. Fox Sports’ Greg Auman was among those who believed David might walk away after his 14th season.

“David, 36, could be retiring, having finished his 14th season tied with Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks for the Bucs’ career tackles lead,” Auman wrote. “This opens a subsection we’ll call ‘ageless linebackers’ — David was a step slower in 2025, but still led the team with 114 tackles, chipping in with 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pick. He’s had an iconic run in Tampa and is only choosing between retiring and returning. To hear him talk on the podium after his final game, he sounded content to walk away with a prolific, memorable career.”

But that narrative has not stayed fixed. Since then, there have been signs pointing the other way. David, who turned 36 in January, underwent knee surgery this offseason. And since then, his recent comments suggest he is still considering a return.

“I feel good. You know, I’m healthy. I’m happy,” David told the Caps Off podcast. “I’m undecided [on retiring]. I’m genuinely undecided, like I don’t know. I don’t know. I still got a lot of football left in me. I know that for sure. I still love the game. I know that for sure. The other side is I want to spend more time with my daughter. She’s in school, so [I’ve been] taking her to school and it’s a good feeling.”

That balance is where things currently stand. On one hand, there is still a desire to play. On the other hand, there is life beyond football beginning to take shape.

Which is why his future in Tampa Bay, and in the NFL overall, remains uncertain. What is clear is that Licht and the Buccaneers are staying patient. And if David decides to return, the door is wide open for him to play a 15th season in Tampa.

The Buccaneers want Lavonte David for the 2025 season

Lavonte David has known only one team throughout his NFL career, spending 14 seasons with the Buccaneers. Over that stretch, he has established himself as one of the defining pieces of the franchise’s defense. The 2025 season, however, brought a noticeable dip in production.

He appeared in all 17 games but finished with a career low 61 tackles and just eight tackles for loss, along with 3.5 sacks, which was two fewer than the previous season. His overall grade of 52.6 ranked 66th out of 88 linebackers, adding to the growing speculation about a possible retirement.

Even with that context, Tampa Bay’s stance has remained consistent. The organization still wants him back for another season.

“A source told ESPN that Lavonte David, the team’s longest-tenured player, still has not decided whether he will return to play for a 15th season, but the Bucs made it clear to his representatives in Indianapolis that they want him back, and the ball is said to be in his court,” Laine reported a couple of weeks ago.

The bigger concern, though, is durability. David dealt with ongoing knee issues throughout last season, which impacted his play. He has since undergone knee surgery, and that recovery process could ultimately shape his decision.

At 36, the question now is less about opportunity and more about whether his body will allow him to keep playing or push him toward retirement.