Buccaneers’ linebacker Lavonte David had a record day at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday in week four. His first tackle of the day marked the 1,500th of his stellar career and joined Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks as the only two players in Bucs history to reach that milestone. David recorded a strip sack of Jalen Hurts, marking his 30th career forced fumble – tied with Khalil Mack for most active players. To put the exclamation point on his resume, David struck out Hurts for the second time, marking his fourth career game with two-plus sacks (the first since 2018). Now with 35.5 sacks, David is tied for seventh in franchise history.

In the third quarter from first and 10, David stopped the Eagles’ momentum. Todd Bowles sent six on the blitz, with David firing through the A gap after the snap. David quickly drove Saquon Barkley back and avoided the chip and reached Hurts. The Eagles signal caller initially dodged the pressure, but David continued the hunt and came from behind, knocking the ball free. Ben Stille recovered the football at the Tampa Bay 24-yard line, putting the Bucs offense back on the field.

“My number was called on that particular play and I was able to blitz and get a chance to go one-on-one with a running back, which is every linebacker’s dream,” David said. “I was able to win and play football. If I hadn’t made that play, I wouldn’t have heard the end of it from Coach (Larry) Foote, so the whole time in my mind I was thinking, ‘I gotta win .I have to win.’ And I could do it.”

David finished the game as the team’s leading tackler with eight, along with a pass defended, a quarterback hit, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and two sacks for a loss of 13 yards. His second sack came on second-and-10 in the fourth quarter, once again turning the tide for Tampa Bay. The ageless wonder continues to defy the norm and is playing in top form at the age of 34. David, the lynchpin of Bowles’ defense, can do it all. With rare instincts, reading and reaction skills, finishing skills and fluid somersaults in man coverage against running backs/tight ends, David sets the tone. He was a force on Sunday, playing from sideline to sideline. When asked about the Hall of Fame and its overshadowed achievements, David turned the spotlight on his family and thanked God.

“I’m a kid from Miami who just wanted to play football because I love the game, but to end up doing things like that at a very high level is definitely a blessing. I give the glory to God and I thank my family for keeping me I am disciplined and on the right track and can support me in playing the game I love.”