While NFL free agency begins in just about two weeks, teams can re-sign their own players at any time. So, what’s the latest with Lavonte David and the Bucs? Will the legendary linebacker retire after 14 seasons in red and pewter, or will he re-sign and return for Year 15 with Tampa Bay in 2026?

We’ve now heard something out of both camps early this week, as ESPN’s Jenna Laine reported late Monday night that the longtime Buccaneer captain has yet to make a decision on his future. Laine also reported that David’s representative is set to meet with the Bucs. Perhaps that meeting could happen this week in Indianapolis, as many key figures within Tampa Bay’s leadership made the trip for the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.

The pattern throughout the offseason thus far is that we’ve essentially heard from Lavonte David or his camp every two weeks or so. On Jan. 29, David told Kay Adams on The Up & Adams Show that the Bucs left the ball in his court as far as a return for 2026.

“Ultimately, they always leave it in my hands, as you know, the past three years, [all] one-year deals,” David said. “It’s always up to me and what I want to do. So far, I’ve just been chilling. I’m back home, I took my little girl to school today. I’m having fun with that and adulting a little bit. Running some errands, doing different things around the house.

“Football, I’m always going to have a love of football. Football is always going to be there, been watching the playoffs. Ready to sit down and watch the Super Bowl with friends and family. I think I might host a Super Bowl party at my crib.”

Bucs LB Lavonte David – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Nathan Ray Seebeck

On Feb. 15, David spoke on another podcast and clearly had mixed feelings about his future, ultimately saying he was still “genuinely undecided.”

“I feel good,” David said on the Caps Off podcast. “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.”

And now, about a week and a half later and about a week and a half before the Bucs could look to address the inside linebacker position in free agency, there was the report from Laine that No. 54 is still unsure about 2026.

So, what did Bucs general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles have to say about Lavonte David and the possibility of him coming back for one more year?

Bucs Leadership Giving Lavonte David Space To Make A Decision

Up until Tuesday afternoon, all that we had heard about Lavonte David’s looming decision to retire or return had actually come from David himself, as well as his camp. But in meeting with the media at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, both Jason Licht and Todd Bowles were able to give their side of where things are regarding the future Bucs Ring of Honor member’s future.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Perhaps unsurprisingly, both Licht and Bowles spoke about their respect for David and noted that he’s earned the right to sit back and take his time with the decision.

“You know how I feel and we feel, [how] the entire organization feels about Lavonte,” Licht told the Tampa media gathered in Indianapolis. “He’s the staple of what we look for in a player and a person. He’s also earned the right to take a step back and decide what his future his. And we’re giving him that respect right now.”

Bowles echoed the same sentiment.

“Lavonte is very close with me, obviously, since I’ve gotten here,” he said. “He’s been our green dot –the guy to carry us, our leader and everything else. So, he’s definitely earned that right to see if he wants to continue playing. If he does, hopefully he’ll be here. But he’s definitely earned that right. We want him back. He knows how we feel about him.”

As much as Licht and Bowles will truly want to give such a highly respected and longtime great all the time he needs to decide on his future, the fact of the matter is that they’ll need to know something within the next week or so. The NFL’s “negotiation window” or “legal tampering period” opens on Monday, March 9 at noon.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: USA Today

Tampa Bay has certainly been exploring all possible avenues during its free agency preparation and surely has a plan for what it wants to do at linebacker if David returns and what it needs to do should he choose to retire.

But at some point, the Bucs’ brass is going to need to know which of those plans to put into action. Even with David, Bowles’ defense is in desperate need of help at inside linebacker. SirVocea Dennis was far from convincing during the 2025 season and is entering a contract year, and 2025 undrafted free agent Nick Jackson is the only other inside linebacker under contract for next season.

So, there’s an argument to be made that even if Lavonte David is back for Year 15, the Bucs should sign another inside linebacker and draft one or maybe even two. And if he does retire, signing a veteran ‘backer and addressing the position in April’s draft is an absolute must.

Time will tell what’s in store for No. 54 in 2026, but the clock is ticking on a final decision.