The NFL unveiled the first wave of players included in its annual Top 100 countdown, featuring Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David

Brianna Dix

Lavonte David, the heart and soul of the Buccaneers' defense, has been recognized by his peers for stellar play on the field. The multi-faceted linebacker came in at No. 96 on the NFL Top 100, the NFL Films' countdown franchise. The Top 100 will feature three-to-five-minute episodes celebrating the league's Top 100 players as voted exclusively by current NFL players. Episodes will debut weekdays at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. ET on X and NFL+ beginning on June 30th and running through Friday, August 29.

This marks the 15th-straight year that current NFL players have voted to determine the Top 100 and David once again cracked the prestigious list. David sits among the league's best at the linebacker position and has been the linchpin of Tampa Bay's defense for the last decade.

Per the Associated Press, since 1991, David is just the eighth player in league annals to record 40-plus sacks and 30-plus takeaways, including playoffs, joining Karlos Dansby, Ray Lewis, London Fletcher, Julius Peppers, Junior Seau, Jason Taylor and Brian Urlacher. Five of those seven players in the group are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

David is one of four players since tackles began being tracked in 1994 with 1,500-plus tackles, 35.0-plus sacks and 10-plus interceptions, along with London Fletcher, Ray Lewis and Bobby Wagner. He has been named a team captain for Tampa Bay in 11 consecutive seasons and is the longest-tenured player on the Bucs' roster. He is second among active players in career tackles at 1,600, coming in behind Wagner at 1,832. David led the Bucs' defense with 122 tackles and added 5.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, six passes defensed, an interception and three forced fumbles in his 13th NFL season in 2024. He has transformed his game in conjunction with league evolution, becoming one of the most highly-touted coverage linebackers. Whether blitzing, limiting running backs and tight ends over the middle of the field or disrupting the run, David is proficient.