Tykee Smith Is Ready For Bucs Captain Role With Lavonte David Retiring

Bucs safety Tykee Smith is grateful that he witnessed Lavonte David’s greatness for the last two years. David, who retired from the NFL on Tuesday, played 14 fantastic years for the Bucs and led Tampa Bay’s defense as a team captain for the past dozen seasons since 2014.

Now the “C’ that was on David’s chest will go to another Buccaneer defender and possibly join the likes of defensive tackle Vita Vea and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. – should they be voted as team captains again. New veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone was a multi-year team captain in Detroit, and he will get some consideration because every defense has a team captain at the linebacker level.

But there are a few other Buccaneers that are deserving, according to David, and I asked him who they were after his retirement press conference on Tuesday. David mentioned defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and outside linebacker Yaya Diaby, both of whom are entering their fourth season in Tampa Bay.

But David spoke mostly about Smith and said he would choose the third safety as his replacement.

“It could be a number of guys,” David said. “A lot of those guys – I wouldn’t take the field if I knew they didn’t have my back and if they didn’t play with the mentality that I had. But you know I love Calijah, Tykee for sure, Yaya – some guys who have played good football for us for a lot of years, but you know I’d probably put my hand up for sure for Tykee.

“Man, that’s like that’s little brother. I took him under my wing. He was one of those guys who – was one of those young dudes who came straight at me, questioning me and grilling me to see how I move and stuff like that.”

David noticed Smith’s play-making ability right away during his rookie season. The third-round pick in 2024 started as the team’s nickel cornerback and was tied for the team lead in interceptions with two and forced fumbles with three, in addition to making 54 tackles, including four for a loss, and breaking up seven passes.

“I’m a good observer, so I kind of notice,” David said. “I notice – like, ‘Okay, he wants to be great at this game.’ He’s definitely one of those guys. But it’s numerous – it’s a great amount of guys. But you know Tykee is kind of like my young cub, my young bull. So he’s one of those one of those – he’s like a real life little brother.

“I’m sure you all seen him on the field where he’s getting in fights with people and I’ve got to put him away. And then he’ll come tell me, ‘Unc, man he tried me!’ So, I’ve got to be a big brother and step up sometimes, but he has a lot of promise for this program.”

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles included Smith when talking about the future leaders on defense.

“He’s touched Vita, he’s touched Yaya,” Bowles said. “Obviously you saw Winfield and Tykee here as well, [Anthony] Nelson – all of those guys are incoming leaders that speak up anyway. Kancey is another one that will go about it – at least on defense. Offensively we have enough. Defensively, there will be that guy that has to speak more, but that has to come naturally. I think they’ve started that process the last year or two, so it shouldn’t be difficult for those guys to speak up – but there will never be another [David].

“He took Tykee under his wing, he took Winfield under his wing. When Devin [White] was here, he took K.J. [Britt] and he took Voss (SirVocea Dennis) under his wing. He took Calijah, obviously they came from the same high school. No matter what position, he gets it, and he understands what guys need.”

Tykee Smith Is Ready To Step Up As A Leader For The Bucs

Bucs safety Tykee Smith is ready to step up and be a leader for Todd Bowles’ defense as he enters year three in Tampa Bay.

Smith made a successful transition from being a slot cornerback playing about 70% of the time as a rookie to replacing Jordan Whitehead as the team’s strong safety last year as an every-down defender. Smith recorded 100 tackles, six tackles for loss, broke up 13 passes, recovered two fumbles, had two sacks and an interception in his second season with the Bucs.

“I think I definitely made some strides, but I left some plays out there that I regret,” Smith said. “The biggest thing is that you live and you learn. Next year it will be three years in the system and try not making the same mistakes and playing more consistent and playing way faster and trying to be a game-changer.”

Smith has stuck to David like glue over the last two seasons, trying to soak up as much knowledge has he can from one of the greatest defenders in franchise history.

“He has played a tremendous role for this franchise,” Smith said of David. “Over the last two years being able to play with him, he’s a future Hall of Famer. I’ve said before, I think he just played like a like that role model for me. Since I got here, he took me under his wing and kind of showed me the ropes. So he’s played a big part in my success here.

“He doesn’t talk a lot but when he does, everything is meaningful. Fourteen years in is a long time. He’s played that ‘uncle’ role for me. I’m trying to steal his habits so I can play this game for a long time.”

Now that another captain position is vacant in Bowles’ defense, Smith, who plays defense with an edge and plenty of physicality, is ready to step up and become a full-fledged leader in Tampa Bay.

“It’s definitely disappointing, not getting into the playoffs like we wanted,” Smith said. “Not being able to control our destiny – that was the most disappointing thing. I think that will add fuel to the fire to come back in the offseason and build more of a bond and be able to hold each other accountable. Me, myself – I need to be more consistent and grow as a leader – a more vocal leader on the back end.”

And perhaps as David’s successor as a team captain in Tampa Bay.