The NFL is no stranger to evolution, especially when it comes to player safety. Over the years, we've seen the league tighten the reins on contact, particularly on special teams and across the defensive side of the ball. Now, with kickoff-related injuries once again in the spotlight, the league is reportedly considering another round of rule changes-this time focused on reworking how kickoffs are handled.
For defenders, this isn’t just a tweak to the playbook-it’s a shift in identity. Few players understand that better than Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David. A veteran presence and one of the most respected voices in the game, David has seen the NFL transform since he entered the league, and he’s feeling the effects of those changes firsthand.
“The game has changed big time on the field,” David said in a recent interview. “It’s a lot of rule changes. Everything is getting looked at from the booth.”
He’s not just talking about the obvious stuff like targeting or helmet-to-helmet hits. David zeroed in on one of the more controversial aspects of modern officiating: unnecessary roughness penalties and the lack of replay review for them.
“I wish that they allowed replay for unnecessary roughness to help us out a little bit,” he said. “Every time I’m watching a game, and it’s a hard hit, and a flag is being thrown, I’m like, ‘Come on, man. You guys are taking the fun out of football.’”
3× #Bucs All-Pro LB Lavonte David discusses the NFL’s rule changes and why the “No Fun League” has made life especially challenging for defensive players: pic.twitter.com/R7eYOHFYQE
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 1, 2026
That frustration is shared by defenders across the league. The game moves fast, and what might look like a dangerous hit in real time often turns out to be clean upon closer inspection. But without the option to review those moments, defensive players are left at the mercy of a split-second call-one that can swing momentum, field position, or even the outcome of a game.
“It’s not malicious intent,” David explained. “It just so happened to be a big hit.
Somebody got caught off guard, and the flag is being thrown. That can be a game-changing situation.
Being a defensive player, that’s tough.”
And it’s not just the hits that are under the microscope. The league’s crackdown on taunting has also changed the way players express themselves on the field. For guys like David and his former teammate Devin White, part of the joy of the game came from the energy, the trash talk, the back-and-forth that made big plays feel even bigger.
“They said it’s almost become the ‘No Fun League,’” David said. “But you still find ways to have fun with the game. I’ll never not love the game of football, but it’s just certain areas that I wish they can just ease up on.”
David isn’t calling for a return to the Wild West-he’s acknowledging the importance of safety while also advocating for a little more balance. Defensive players are being asked to play fast, physical football while operating under stricter rules than ever before. That’s a tough needle to thread, especially when the consequences of a questionable flag can be so significant.
And while David’s voice carries weight, especially in locker rooms and among his peers, it remains to be seen whether the league will take those concerns to heart. The NFL has made it clear that player safety is a top priority, and that’s not changing anytime soon. But as the rules continue to evolve, defenders like Lavonte David are simply asking for a seat at the table-and a little more understanding of what it means to play their side of the ball.