A training camp story is making waves. Buccaneers legend Lavonte David recently shared details of a fiery confrontation with his former offensive coordinator, Todd Monken.

Recently, on The Arena: Gridiron podcast, the host asked David about one of the most intense confrontations of his career with then-offensive coordinator Monken. That's when David revealed how Monken had once infuriated him.

“You know how training camp is. We get into competing. D Jack was there, Mike was there, we over there trash talking each other. Monk is with the receivers, and he said, ‘Go back over there f***boy.’” 

These words flipped the retired Buccaneers linebacker’s switch to rage mode.

“I was like ‘what the f*** did you say to me’ and I just started walking over there… A different Lavonte came out and you know everybody grabbed me and stuff,” David continued.

David further revealed that they eventually buried the hatchet.

“You realize it's the heat of the moment in the training camp. We didn't speak for a couple of weeks.," David concluded. "After that, the season got over, and we got kinda cool, and then he went to the Ravens or whatever. We played them a couple of times, and we dabbed each other and stuff like that.”

David had a decorated 14-year career with the Buccaneers before retiring. He was selected to the 2015 Pro Bowl and helped the team win Super Bowl LV.

Even though the near-altercation with Monken never turned physical, the story highlights just how intense and emotional NFL training camps can get.

Monken's time as offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay was brief, unlike David's NFL career, which began and ended there. However, it was during his time there that Monken laid the groundwork that the franchise would lean on for years.

How Did Lavonte David’s Career Hold Up Under Todd Monken’s Coaching 

Todd Monken served as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator from 2016 to 2018 under head coach Dirk Koetter.

During Monken’s three seasons, David continued his reputation as one of the NFL’s most consistent inside linebackers. He started all 16 games in 2016, and then 13 and 14 games in the next two years.

In 2016, he recorded 87 combined tackles, 5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles. David followed that with better performances in the next two years, with 101 and 120 combined tackles, respectively.

Meanwhile, the offense showed flashes of explosiveness under Monken, especially in 2018 when the passing attack ranked among the league’s better units.

Monken later went on to be the OC at the Baltimore Ravens and is now a head coach for the first time in the NFL, as he prepares for 2026 with the Cleveland Browns. 

Read more at the Cleveland Browns Community!

Written by

Zaid Parvaiz

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote