Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David has played one of the most physically demanding positions in football for 14 years. He’s not sure whether he’ll keep going, but he believes he can.
“I feel good,” David recently told the Caps Off podcast via JoeBucsFan.com. “You know, I’m healthy. I’m happy. 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.”
David turned 36 last month. He’s due to become a free agent next month.
A second-round pick in 2012, David has played his entire career with the Buccaneers. He’s survived (actually, thrived) through five different head coaches.
David has played 215 regular-season games. He has started every one of them. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2013. Two other times, he was a second-team All-Pro. Somehow, he’s been voted to the Pro Bowl only once.
He’s at crossroads. After that much time, it makes sense. While (amazingly) he’s confident he can still physically do it, life changes for a guy in his late 30s. Priorities change. Football season is a significant commitment of time and focus and effort.
At some point, the cost of continuing outweighs the benefit — especially for a guy who has made $100.846 million under six different contracts with the same team.
The Buccaneers announced several additions to their coaching staff on Thursday.
Among the new coaches are pass game coordinator T.J. Yates and senior offensive assistant/pass game specialist Ken Zampese. Both men coached with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson prior to his move from Atlanta to Tampa.
Quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer’s addition was previously reported. The Bucs have also hired defensive assistant Todd Bowles Jr., assistant offensive line coach Andrew Mitchell, assistant special teams coach Luke Smith, and defensive line coach Marcus West.
The Buccaneers also announced the promotions of safeties coach Tim Atkins, cornerbacks coach Rashad Johnson, and head strength and conditioning coach Chad Wade.
Over the weekend, former Cardinals and Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians disclosed that he’s due to have open heart surgery on Friday, February 6.
On Tuesday, Arians posted an update on Twitter.
“Recently on The Today Show, I mentioned I would be having open heart surgery and I just wanted to clarify and let everyone know the procedure I am having is a common one and is something my doctors and I have been monitoring for a number of years and they recommend I correct the issue now so l can be as good as new back on the golf course ASAP,” Arians said on Twitter. “I want to thank everyone for all the prayers and well-wishes.”
Arians has overcome several health challenges over the years. He seems to be ready to take this one in stride, and he’s anxious to get back to working on his swing.
The Buccaneers have found a new quarterbacks coach.
According to multiple reports, Chandler Whitmer is taking over the role for Tampa Bay in 2026.
Whitmer, 34, spent the 2025 season with Indiana University as the program’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, helping IU win the CFP national championship and Fernando Mendoza win the Heisman Trophy.
But Whitmer also has familiarity with new Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, as Whitmer served on the Falcons’ staff in 2024 as a passing game specialist. Robinson was Atlanta’s offensive coordinator in 2024 and 2025.
Whitmer also spent time with the Chargers from 2021-2023 as an offensive quality control coach.
Former Cardinals and Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians has fought and won plenty of health battles. He’s about to fight another.
Appearing on Today to promote an upcoming prostate cancer screening Super Bowl commercial with tight end Rob Gronkowski, Arians told Craig Melvin that Arians will undergo open heart surgery on February 6.
The comment came at the tail end of the interview, with no specifics as to why Arians will have the procedure.
We wish him nothing but the best. He’s always been a colorful character, more than willing to drop an S-bomb or an F-bomb or an MF-bomb or some combination of the three.
Also, watch the interview and the commercial. Men over 40 need prostate cancer screening. And it no longer comes with the singing of Moon River.
