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Todd Bowles: Departures Of Lavonte David, Mike Evans Are Difficult For Me

Todd Bowles will be back as the Buccaneers' head coach in 2026, but two franchise mainstays will not be in Tampa with him.

Linebacker Lavonte David has retired after 14 seasons with the team and wide receiver Mike Evans left after 12 seasons to sign with the 49ers as a free agent. During an appearance on NFL Network on Monday, Bowles discussed how difficult it will be to move on without the two veterans.

Bowles said that David's decision "really stung me" because of how much he has meant to the defense over the years.

"He was the guy off the field that got everyone going," Bowles said. "He practiced that way, he carried himself that way. He was, right now, the cream of the crop of who you want to coach and how you want that guy to play. He was that guy. He was that guy for us for 14 years. I can't say enough good things about him. He was like a brother to me."

Bowles called it "very hard to see [Evans] leave sentimentally and professionally" and that they will miss the wideout's presence on offense, but he also noted that Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan mean the cupboard isn't bare at receiver now that Evans is in the NFC West.

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Todd Bowles: Departures Of Lavonte David, Mike Evans Are Difficult For Me

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