Linebacker Thomas Davis is set to join the Chargers once free agent signings become official on March 13. The 35-year old agreed to a two-year, $10.5 million contract to leave the Panthers and join the Bolts.
Here are a few things to know about the newest addition to L.A.
Started his career as a safety
The Panthers selected Davis with the No. 14 overall selection in the 2005 NFL draft out of the University of Georgia.
In 39 collegiate games, he was primarily used as a free safety and off-ball linebacker at times, recording 272 tackles, 18 for a loss, 10.5 sacks, three interceptions, six forced fumbles, and nine fumble recoveries.
Davis entered training camp as a safety, but also learned the linebacker position. Due to injuries that year, the former Bulldog played the strong safety position, but struggled in his role.
In 2006, Davis entered training camp listed as the team’s starting outside linebacker.
Injuries hampered playing time early on
Davis went through an athlete’s worst nightmare after suffering from three ACL injuries that dated from 2009-12.
The first time, they replaced his ACL with part of his hamstring tendon. The second time, they shaved off a piece of the patellar tendon in his right knee. The third time, they needed part of the patellar tendon from his left knee — so he had surgery on both knees at once.
After three years of not being able to see the field, Davis bounced back in 2013, starting all 16 games and recorded a career-high 123 tackles and four sacks, in addition to two interceptions and a forced fumble.
His work on and off the field has been recognized
Davis received the 2014 Walter Payton Man of the Year award at NFL Honors.
Davis totaled 100 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three passes defended that season for the Panthers. But off-the-field, he put in the same amount of the work to show his care for the community.
Davis and his wife Kelly founded the Thomas Davis Defending Dreams Foundation (TDDDF), a non-profit dedicated to providing and promoting free programs that enhance the quality of life for more than 2,000 underprivileged children and their families.
Davis hit a roadblock at the start of 2018 season
Davis was suspended four games for failing the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. In a video he posted on social media, Thomas said it was not for steroids or HGH, but for an estrogen blocker.
Whatever Davis took was banned by the NFL, though he said he has taken the same supplements for seven or eight years without a problem.
Davis went on to start the remaining 12 games and recorded 79 tackles and had six passes defensed.
Age is just a number for Davis
Davis is 35 going on 36, but is still playing football like he’s 26. His three consecutive Pro Bowl years (2015-17) and 2018 season were perfect illustrations that there’s plenty of juice to provide quality play in his two years with the Chargers.
He’ll arrive in Los Angeles with a player that has the veteran leadership the team covets, along with 1,094 tackles under his belt, including 28 sacks, with 51 passes defensed, 13 interceptions, 18 forced fumbles and 11 recoveries.
