Willie Davis (defensive end) facts for kids
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Davis (far left) playing for the Packers in Super Bowl I
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| No. 77, 87 | |||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | July 24, 1934 Lisbon, Louisiana, U.S. |
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| Died: | April 15, 2020 (aged 85) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
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| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Booker T Washington (Texarkana, Arkansas) | ||||||
| College: | Grambling State | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1956 / Round: 15 / Pick: 181 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Willie D. Davis (born July 24, 1934 – died April 15, 2020) was an American football player. He was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL).
Davis played college football for the Grambling State Tigers. He was then chosen in the 1956 NFL Draft. He played for 12 seasons in the NFL. He was a star player for the Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers.
Willie Davis won five NFL championships, including the first two Super Bowls. These wins were with the Green Bay Packers under coach Vince Lombardi. Davis was chosen as an All-Pro player six times. He was put into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.
Contents
Playing Football
College Days
Willie Davis went to Grambling State University. There, he played football for the Grambling State Tigers. He played on both offense and defense. He was an offensive tackle and a defensive end.
Becoming a Pro Player
The Cleveland Browns picked Davis in the 1956 NFL Draft. He was the 181st player chosen. He did not start playing right away because he served in the United States Army. He began his NFL career in 1958.
With the Browns, Davis wore number 77. He played in different positions on offense and defense. In 1960, he was traded to the Green Bay Packers.
A Star with the Packers
With the Packers, Davis wore number 87. Coach Vince Lombardi made him a full-time defensive end. For 10 seasons, Davis was a key player on the Packers' defense. He played in 138 games in a row. Overall, he played in 162 regular-season games in his NFL career.
Davis was part of all five of Lombardi's NFL championship teams. He also played in the first two Super Bowls (Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II).
During Davis's time, official records for tackles or sacks (when a player brings down the quarterback) were not kept. However, many believe he had over 100 sacks during his 10 years with Green Bay. He once said he thought he was the team's all-time leader in sacks. He recovered 21 fumbles for the Packers. This is still a team record today.
Davis was chosen as an All-Pro player five times (1962, 1964–1967). He also played in the Pro Bowl five times (1963–1967).
Team Spirit and Unity
In his early years with the Packers, Davis and other players lived in the Hotel Northland. He often shared a story about the famous "Ice Bowl" game. On that cold morning, he and others were woken up by a call. The front desk announced it was 17 degrees below zero!
Willie Davis also helped create a good team environment. He followed Coach Lombardi's lead in treating everyone equally, no matter their race. Davis would often be the first to invite players to eat lunch or dinner together. This helped new players, especially those who had never played on a mixed-race team, feel welcome. He made sure everyone fit into Lombardi's team culture of inclusion.
Life After Football
Awards and Business
In the early 1970s, Davis worked as a TV commentator for NFL games on NBC. He was put into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981. This is a very high honor for football players.
He received many other awards too. In 1986, he was named the Walter Camp Man of the Year. In 1988, he was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him among the 100 Greatest Football Players.
Davis was also a successful businessman. He earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in 1968. Since 1976, he was the president of All-Pro Broadcasting. This company owned several radio stations. He also served on the boards of many large companies.
Family Life
Willie Davis had a son named Duane Davis, who is an actor. He also had a daughter, Lori Davis, who is a lawyer. His grandson, Wyatt Davis, is also a football player. Wyatt played college football at Ohio State University and now plays for the New Orleans Saints.
Later Years
Willie Davis passed away on April 15, 2020, at the age of 85. He had been in the hospital for a month due to kidney problems.
During the 2020 football season, the Green Bay Packers honored Davis. They wore a special sticker on their helmets with his name and number.
