Thomas Davis

Thomas Davis is a professional American football player in the National Football League (NFL). He currently holds a linebacker position for the Los Angeles Chargers. He is a three-time Pro Bowler and the 2014 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.

Born on March 22, 1983 in Georgia, Davis ran track as well as played baseball and football while attending Randolph-Clay High School. He attended the University of Georgia where he was an excellent free safety as well as a rush linebacker. He declared for the 2005 NFL Draft where he was selected by the Carolina Panthers.

During his rookie year, he was named a starting strong safety and the team made it to the playoffs but were eliminated with a loss to the Seattle Seahawks. In 2006, he was a starting outside linebacker and he recorded 88 combined tackles, 1.5 game sacks, and 6 pass deflections on 14 games and 14 starts.

Still a starting outside linebacker, he recorded 88 combined tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 5 pass deflections, and 1 interception in 2008. In 2009, Davis was placed on the injury reserve due to a torn ACL. He tore his ACL once again in 2010 and he was placed on their list of physically unable to perform players.

Davis renewed his contract with the Panthers in 2011 but tore his ACL again. He is the only professional athlete who has recovered from 3 ACL tears and returned to their chosen sport. While he came back to the game in 2012, he had another injury – this time a hamstring injury.

Davis was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month of November in 2013. In 2014, he was rated as the best 4-3 outside linebacker in coverage. He set career highs in interceptions and sacks in the 2015 season. He was also able to play in Super Bowl 50 but their team eventually fell to the Denver Broncos.

In 2016, he was named to his second Pro Bowl. He was selected for his third straight Pro Bowl in 2017 and ranked 73rd in the Top 100 Players in the NFL. Davis transferred to the Los Angeles Chargers on March 13, 2019. His current player statistics are1,094 total tacklers, 28 sacks, 18 forced fumbles, 9 fumble recoveries, 13 interceptions, and 1 defensive touchdown.

Achievements:

• 3-time Pro Bowl (2015–2017)
• First-team All-Pro (2015)
• Second-team All-Pro (2013)
• Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2014)
• Consensus All-American (2004)
• First-team All-SEC (2004)
• Second-team All-SEC (2003)