Russell Davis (defensive tackle) facts for kids

Russell Morgan Davis, born on March 28, 1975, is a former American professional football player. He was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). Russell Davis played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels. The Chicago Bears picked him in the second round of the 1999 NFL draft. He played for the Bears in 1999. Later, he joined the Arizona Cardinals from 2000 to 2005. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2006. In 2007, he played for the New York Giants and helped them win Super Bowl XLII.

Early Life and College Football

Growing Up in Fayetteville

Russell Davis finished high school in 1994. He went to E. E. Smith High School in his hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina. During his high school years, he was chosen as an All-State player. He was a strong lineman on both offense and defense.

Playing for the Tar Heels

After high school, Russell Davis went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He played football for the Tar Heels from 1995 to 1998. He took a "redshirt" year in 1994, which means he practiced but did not play in games.

Davis started 22 games for North Carolina. He made 10.5 sacks during his college career. He played on the same defensive line as future NFL players Greg Ellis and Vonnie Holliday.

College Season Highlights

• 1995 Season: As a freshman, Davis had 46 tackles. He also made three sacks in eight games that he started.
• 1996 Season: In his sophomore year, Davis recorded 27 tackles. He also had 2.5 sacks.
• 1997 Season: As a junior, Davis had 60 tackles. He made three sacks in 10 games, starting nine of them.
• 1998 Season: In his senior year, Davis played only two games. He had an ankle injury but still managed 36 tackles and two sacks.

Russell Davis's NFL Career

Chicago Bears (1999)

The Chicago Bears chose Russell Davis in the 1999 NFL draft. He was the 49th player picked overall in the second round. As a rookie in 1999, Davis played in 11 games. He started 8 of those games. He made 13 tackles and 2 sacks. His first NFL sack happened on September 12, 1999. He sacked Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac.

Arizona Cardinals (2000–2005)

The Arizona Cardinals picked up Davis after the Bears released him. In 2000, he played 14 games for Arizona, starting 9. He made 30 tackles and forced one fumble.

In 2001, Davis played and started all 16 games. This was his first full season as a starter. He had his best year with 54 tackles. He also made 2 sacks and deflected one pass. Again in 2002, Davis played and started all 16 regular season games. He made 44 tackles, 2 sacks, and defended 2 passes.

In 2003, Davis played and started 15 games. He made 37 tackles, 1 sack, and defended 2 passes. He also forced one fumble. In 2004, Davis made 49 tackles. He had 1 sack and defended 3 passes, forcing 1 fumble. He played and started all 16 games that year.

In 2005, Davis started the first three games. However, he then went on injured reserve for the rest of the year. This was due to an injury to his left biceps. He made 5 tackles in 2005 before his injury.

Seattle Seahawks (2006)

In 2006, Russell Davis played for the Seattle Seahawks. He played in 13 games but did not start any. He made 30 tackles and 3 sacks during his time with the Seahawks.

New York Giants (2007)

Russell Davis played his final NFL season in 2007 with the New York Giants. He played in 11 games. He recorded 5 tackles and deflected 2 passes. He also played in two playoff games that season. The Giants went on to win Super Bowl XLII, making Russell Davis a Super Bowl champion.