Eric Davis (American football)

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Eric Davis
Eric Davis at Serramonte Center 2010-01-30 1.JPG
Davis in January 2010
No. 25, 26
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1968-01-26) January 26, 1968 (age 56)
Anniston, Alabama, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Anniston
College: Jacksonville State
NFL draft: 1990  / Round: 2 / Pick: 53
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:659
Sacks:2.0
Forced fumbles:14
Fumble recoveries:12
Interceptions:38
Defensive touchdowns:5
Player stats at NFL.com

Eric Wayne Davis (born January 26, 1968) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Davis was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 1990 NFL draft. [1] He played in NFL seasons from 1990 to 2002.

Contents

In 2008, he was elected to the Division II College Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

College career

Davis played for Jacksonville State, which was at the time a Division II school, from 1986 to 1989. As a senior, he led the team to a 13–1 record, a Gulf South Conference championship, and an appearance in the Division II championship game. He finished 1989 with 51 tackles, 8 pass deflections, and 6 interceptions. [2] He was voted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1999. [3]

NFL career

Davis is the all-time leader in consecutive NFL playoff games (five) with at least one interception. [4]

Davis was a pivotal player in the 1994 NFC Championship Game versus the Dallas Cowboys when he made two key plays early in the game: a 44-yard interception return for a touchdown on the game's third play from scrimmage [5] and a forced fumble on Michael Irvin that led to another 49ers touchdown. [6] These plays helped the 49ers beat the previous two-time champion Cowboys to advance to Super Bowl XXIX. [6] The 49ers went on to beat the San Diego Chargers 49–26. [7] In 1995, Davis went to the Pro Bowl and helped the 49ers be the number-one ranked defense.

In 1996, he became a free agent and signed with the Carolina Panthers, [8] helping them reach the NFC title game only to lose to eventual Super Bowl XXXI champion Green Bay Packers. [9] After playing for one year (2001) with the Denver Broncos, in 2002, he ended his career with the Detroit Lions. [10]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCombSoloAstSckIntYdsAvgLngTDFFFRYdsTD
1990 SF 160210.011313.013021340
1991 SF 22100.0000.0000000
1992 SF 1616610.035217.33700200
1993 SF 1616690.044511.341111471
1994 SF 1616746860.0188.0801200
1995 SF 1515514381.038428.08612000
1996 CAR 1616605640.055711.43602000
1997 CAR 1414413560.05255.01700120
1998 CAR 1616716471.058116.25620100
1999 CAR 16167658180.05499.81601100
2000 CAR 16167361120.05142.8804100
2001 DEN 160252410.0000.0001100
2002 DET 71383170.011414.01400100
Career188150670440692.03844211.68641412831

Broadcasting career

In the 2000s, Davis worked as a color analyst for the 49ers during the preseason on KPIX-TV, and also analyzed on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. In 2011, he was hired as the color analyst for the 49ers radio broadcasts, joining Ted Robinson in the booth, and replacing Gary Plummer. [11] [12] He was also the cohost of "The Drive with Tierney and Davis" on 95.7 The Game in San Francisco. [13]

In 2012, he became a cohost/analyst for a new weekday morning show on NFL Network titled NFL AM . [13] He continued to serve as the 49ers' radio analyst through the 2013 season.

In 2015, he became a regular contributor on The Rich Eisen Show [14] while moving to The NFL Network's flagship program Total Access. [15] In 2016 he became cohost on the afternoon drive show at ESPN LA. [13] [16]

In 2017 Davis was accused of sexual assault and sexual misconduct by two makeup artists while Davis was working on Total Access. [15] [17] Davis was terminated from both ESPN and The NFL Network following the accusations. [18] [19]

In 2019 he became cohost of Bleav in 49ers Podcast. [20]

In 2020 he was cleared of all sexual harassment allegations with all claims being dismissed With Prejudice in Los Angeles County Superior Court. [21] [ better source needed ]

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References

  1. "1990 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  2. "Former Gamecock Eric Davis to be Inducted into NCAA Division II Football Hall of Fame". October 22, 2008.
  3. "Eric Davis (1999) - Hall of Fame".
  4. Crenshaw, Solomon Jr. (May 18, 2013). "Eric Davis would 'run into the big boys' on his way to Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (video)". al. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  5. "49ers 38, Cowboys 20". AP NEWS. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Amore, Dom (January 16, 1995). "DAVIS TURNS TABLES ON COWBOYS". courant.com. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  7. "SUPER BOWL XXIX; 49ers Crush Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX". The New York Times. January 30, 1995. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  8. "Panthers Sign All-Pro CB Eric Davis". AP NEWS. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  9. "Playoff history: Carolina Panthers". ESPN.com. December 28, 2014. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  10. "Eric Davis Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  11. Price, Taylor (October 27, 2011). "Davis Joins U.S. Bank 49ers Radio Team". 49ers.com. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  12. "Ted Robinson – NFC West Blog – ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  13. 1 2 3 "Eric Davis Expands Role at ESPNLA". ESPN Press Room U.S. October 12, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  14. "Eric Davis". The Rich Eisen Show. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  15. 1 2 "Makeup artist alleges assault by Davis, Irvin". ESPN.com. December 22, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  16. "Makeup Artist Who Sued NFL Star for Alleged Sexual Harassment Drops Part of Case". NBC Los Angeles. February 14, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  17. Goldberg, Rob. "Eric Davis Sued for Alleged Sexual Harassment by 2nd NFL Network Female Employee". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  18. Perez, A. J. "Ex-players named in second sexual harassment lawsuit filed against NFL Network". USA TODAY. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  19. Perez, A. J. "ESPN drops Donovan McNabb, Eric Davis after sexual harassment investigation". USA TODAY. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  20. "Bleav in 49ers". Bleav Podcast Network. September 10, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  21. "case access". June 6, 2020.