Lavonte David: Bucs’ Tight-Knit Team Culture Translates to the Field

“When you build those relationships outside of football, on the football field it makes everything go easier,” David continued. “You know how to talk to somebody, and if you talk to somebody a different type of way, they won’t take it as disrespect and they won’t take it as criticism – it’s just constructive criticism. That’s the type of team we have. I think starting with Coach Bowles, those guys implemented that and it’s trickling down to the leaders to be able to carry it out through the locker room. I think we’ve got a great group of guys, and a great group of young guys, too, as well, who just come in and work and want to be great, and at the same time be great people on and off the field.”

The Buccaneers target a certain type of player in each year’s draft (and the post-draft signing ability), which has led to a motto painted on their draft room wall: “I Am That Man.” The motto is accompanied by a silhouette of an unlabeled player. General Manager Jason Licht has confirmed that David is the player in the silhouette. When the Bucs hit on those picks and develop good players and good leaders, they make it a priority to keep those people in the building. This helps forge that tight-knit culture as players see their hard work and loyalty rewarded.

The most recent example is All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs, who signed a new five-year extension on Thursday that makes him the highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history. His teammates and coaches were jubilant when he took the field that morning. That followed an offseason in which the Bucs concentrated on their own free agents-to-be, successfully re-signing Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield, Antoine Winfield Jr., Chase McLaughlin and, of course, David himself. David agreed that it inspires him to see the team reward his teammates.

“It does, it really does,” he said. “When I saw Tristan get his contract, I was so happy. I don’t think I’ve been happier for somebody to get what they [deserve] in a while. He’s one of those guys who just puts his head down and just works. I love the way he works. I love the way he carries himself. I think because we’re the same Zodiac sign, me and him are similar people. I was very happy. I came up to him and gave him a big hug, told him congratulations. [The wait] was well worth it. I told everyone, ‘If Tristan is happy, everybody is happy,’ so I’m glad they got it done.”

You don’t get any points on the gameday scoreboard for your “culture,” of…