CB Carlton Davis and LB Lavonte David – Photo courtesy of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The early accolades for the Bucs defense keep stacking up.

The National Football League announced on Wedensday that Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Lavonte David was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September.

Over three games in the month of September, David tallied 24 tackles (two for loss), two passes defensed, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Through Week 3, David stands as the only player in the NFL with at least 20 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble. Among NFL linebackers, David is tied for the lead in interceptions and tied for fifth in passes defensed.

Bucs LB Lavonte David and Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In the Week 3 win vs. the Denver Broncos, David surpassed five-time Pro Bowl, two-time All-Pro linebacker Hardy Nickerson (1,028) for the third-most tackles in franchise history (1,030), and now trails only Derrick Brooks (2,198) and Rondé Barber (1,428). He is one of just two players in NFL history with 1,000-or-more tackles, 20.0-plus sacks and 10-or-more interceptions through his first eight career seasons, along with Pro Football Hall of Famer Ray Lewis.

Since entering the league in 2012, David ranks first in solo tackles (738), first in fumble recoveries (15), third in total tackles (1,030), third in tackles for loss (118) and tied for fifth in forced fumbles (22). Among all linebackers since 2012, David ranks tied for second with 12 interceptions and fourth with 47 passes defensed.

The Nebraska product becomes the sixth Buccaneers player, and third linebacker, to earn NFC Defensive Player of the Month honors, joining Shaquil Barrett, Derrick Brooks, Simeon Rice, Barrett Ruud and Warren Sapp.

David is part of a defense that ranks fourth in the NFL in yards allowed (308.0 per game), third in rushing yards allowed (70.3 per game), and tied for seventh in points allowed per game (20.3), while tying for the third-most sacks in the NFL (12.0) and the second most tackles for loss (24).

David has been a defensive captain for Tampa Bay in seven consecutive seasons (2014-20) and also serves as a national spokesperson and ambassador for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

– This report courtesy of the Buccaneers communications department