Terrell Davis Childhood

Terrell Davis was born on October 28, 1972. He was raised in his hometown of San Diego, CA as one of eight children. Davis was a gifted athlete, as he played other sports besides football such as baseball and track and field. As a young kid, Davis would suffer from migraine headaches. He learned to deal with the condition as best as he can, and it didn't stop him from playing sports. This followed him all the way to the pros, and is part of his legendary performance in Super Bowl XXXII.

Terrell Davis High School Stats and Awards

Terrell Davis high school football career didn't gain traction until his senior year. He spent his first two years in Morse High School in San Diego, before transferring to Lincoln High School. He played several positions on the football field, but fullback was where he made a name for himself. He got a scholarship to Long Beach State University in part due to his brother who was a tailback at the school.

Terrell Davis College Career Stats and Notes

At Long Beach State University, Terrell Davis redshirted his first year under coach Georg Allen, who was the legendary Hall of Fame coach of the Washington Redskins. Allen would pass away and Davis never got a chance to play a down for him. In his only year playing at LBSU, Davis rushed for 262 yards. Before the next season, LBSU shut down its football program. Davis would transfer to the University of Georgia.

At the start of his Georgia career, he was the backup to Georgia star and future NFL Pro Bowler Garrison Hearst. Davis became the top running back once Hearst left, and in his junior and senior seasons, he rushed for 825 and 494, respectively. He missed several games his senior season due to a hamstring injury. With his career at Georgia finished, Davis entered the 1995 NFL Draft.

Terrell Davis NFL Career Stats and Notes

With the injury tag on him, Davis saw his stock drop in the 1996 NFL Draft. He was selected in the 6th round by the Denver Broncos. The former Georgia running back worked his way up the depth chart and by opening day of the 1995 NFL season, had won the starting job. He started 14 games his rookie season, and showed the Broncos and the rest of the teams who passed on him what he was capable of doing. He rushed for 1,137 yards on 237 carries. In 1996, Davis continued to impress, this time rushing for 1,536 yards and setting a Denver Broncos’ team rushing TD record with 13.

The future Hall of Famer steamrolled the league over the next two seasons. In 1997, he rushed for 1,750 yards and 15 TDs, leading the Broncos to their first ever Super Bowl title. In 1998, he secured his place in history by having one of the greatest rushing seasons ever. Davis became the 4th member of the NFL's 2,000 rushing club. To go along with his franchise-record 2,008 yards, he had 21 rushing TDs, a rushing title, an NFL MVP award, Offensive Player of the Year Award and tacked on another Super Bowl title.

Davis entered the 1999 season without Broncos QB legend John Elway, who retired after the Super Bowl XXXIII win. Things changed for Davis as an assortment of injuries kept him off the field. He played in a total of 17 games over the next three seasons. Davis called it a career prior to the start of the 2002 NFL season.

Terrell Davis Super Bowl XXXII MVP Performance

Terrell Davis was having a monster season in 1997. His 1,750 yards rushing was second highest in the NFL that year, only trailing Detroit Lions’ Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders’ historic 2,053. The Denver Broncos, coming off of their stunning loss as the top seed in the 1996 Divisional Round to the Jacksonville Jaguards, determined to make it right. They did by making it to Super Bowl XXXII. Their playoff path included dismantling the Jaguars 42-17 in the Wild Card Round, a hard fought 14-10 win on the road against AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs, and a close 24-21 road win in the AFC championship game in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. Davis was the catalyst behind those three wins, rushing for over 100 yards in each game.

He saved his best for the Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers. Davis set the tone for the Broncos early, responding to an early Packers' TD with a 1 yard rushing TD. In the second quarter, however, he was sidelined due to a migraine headache which blurred his vision. He bounced back after halftime, and in the end rushed for 157 yards and 3 TDs, including the game winner. His performance earned him Super Bowl MVP.

List of Pro Football Hall of Fame Members