Najeh Davenport

Najeh Davenport is a retired professional football player originally from North Carolina. He spent seven years in the National Football League as a Running Back, primarily representing the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

In addition to his on-field career, he made a significant impact post-retirement by successfully challenging race-based discrimination in the NFL's concussion settlement process.

Player Profile, High School, and College Career

Najeh Trenadious Monté Davenport was born on February 8, 1979, in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. The Running Back stands 185 cm tall, and his weight was last listed at 112 kg.

He attended Miami Central High School in West Little River, Florida. Following graduation, Davenport committed to play for the University of Miami from 1998 to 2001. During his time with the Hurricanes, he helped the team secure a BCS National Championship in 2001.

Professional Career

He was selected by the Green Bay Packers during the 2002 NFL Draft. They picked him in round 4 and he was the 135th overall selection.

During his professional career, he spent four seasons as a power running back for Green Bay before joining the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he provided key depth in their backfield. He concluded his playing days with a brief stint with the Indianapolis Colts in 2008.

Off the Field

Off the field, Davenport played a historic role in advocating for retired players. In August 2020, he and fellow ex-player Kevin Henry filed a landmark civil rights lawsuit against the NFL regarding its $1 billion concussion settlement.

They challenged the league's use of "race-norming"—a scoring algorithm that assumed Black players started with a lower baseline cognitive function than white players, requiring them to show a more significant mental decline to qualify for payouts.

Career Highlights:

• 2001 – BCS National Champion