Billy Davis (American football)
Encyclopedia
Billy Davis is an American football
coach in the NFL
for the Cleveland Browns
. He is the linebackers coach. He previously served as the defensive coordinator
for the Arizona Cardinals
. He was the defensive coordinator
for the San Francisco 49ers
from 2005 through 2006.
, Ohio
. His father, Bill Davis, coached in the NFL for 13 years, included the six years he was the Cleveland Browns
’ vice president of player personnel. As a kid, Davis was hired to be a ball boy
for Dick Vermeil
in Philadelphia
and Don Shula
in Miami
.
and was a quarterback
and wide receiver
on the football team from 1985 to 1988.
.
. For most of his football career, Davis had played and coached on the offensive side of the ball, but under head coach Bill Cowher
, Davis coached the Pittsburgh defense for three years.
, Davis spent four years with the newly created Carolina Panthers
. In his second year with Carolina, linebacker Kevin Greene
finished first in the NFL in sacks with 14.5, and Lamar Lathon
finished second in the NFL in with sacks with 13.5. Both linebackers went to the Pro Bowl
that year.
.
were he spent the year as a defensive assistant and line coach.
in 2001, were he spent the next three seasons as the linebackers coach under Dan Reeves
. Davis helped then defensive coordinator
Wade Phillips
implement his new 3-4 defense
. During Davis' three years at Atlanta, linebacker Keith Brooking
went to the Pro Bowl
each year.
linebackers coach in 2004. According to defensive coordinator
Tim Lewis
, Billy commanded the room whenever speaking to players and compiled blitz packages, a job usually done by the defensive coordinator.
head coach Mike Nolan
to be the defensive coordinator
on the team after a six hour interview. One of the reasons Davis got the job was because he had experience with the 3-4 defense
that Coach Nolan wanted to implement in San Francisco's defense and a recommendation Nolan got from New York Giants
defensive coordinator
Tim Lewis
.
, averaging 25.8 points a game, a 44.4 % third-down efficiency, and allowing 428 points that season.
As soon as early November, rumors began to swirl that Davis could be fired at the end of the season, if not earlier.
Although the second half of the season saw strong performances from cornerback
Walt Harris
and linebacker
Brandon Moore, by the end of the season, the 49ers defense had allowed 412 points in 16 games.
On January 3, 2007, Nolan announced the Davis had been fired stating that "After an evaluation period, we felt this was the right time to make this move". He was replaced by San Diego Chargers
linebackers coach Greg Manusky
.
for the Arizona Cardinals
. On February 18, 2009, Davis was named the team's defensive coordinator after former defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast
was fired. Davis was let go after the 2010 season after the Cardinals' poor performance on defense which ranked 31st against the pass, 32nd against the run and 31st overall.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He is the linebackers coach. He previously served as the defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was the defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
from 2005 through 2006.
Early life
Billy Davis was born on November 5, 1965 in YoungstownYoungstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. His father, Bill Davis, coached in the NFL for 13 years, included the six years he was the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
’ vice president of player personnel. As a kid, Davis was hired to be a ball boy
Ball Boy
Ball Boy is a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano and also the name of the main character. It first appeared in issue 1735, dated 18 October 1975. It features a five-a-side football team that includes:* Ball Boy - the captain of the team, Ball Boy bears resemblances to The Dandy's Owen Goal...
for Dick Vermeil
Dick Vermeil
Richard Albert "Dick" Vermeil is a former American head coach for the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles , St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs...
in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Don Shula
Don Shula
Donald Francis "Don" Shula is a former American football cornerback and coach.He is best known as coach of the Miami Dolphins, the team he led to two Super Bowl victories, and to the National Football League's only perfect season. Shula was named 1993 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated....
in Miami
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
College years
Davis attended the University of CincinnatiUniversity of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
and was a quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
on the football team from 1985 to 1988.
Michigan State
Davis began his football coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Michigan State SpartansMichigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
.
Pittsburgh Steelers
In 1992, Davis entered the NFL as the defensive assistant for the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. For most of his football career, Davis had played and coached on the offensive side of the ball, but under head coach Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL...
, Davis coached the Pittsburgh defense for three years.
Carolina Panthers
In 1995, under coach Dom CapersDom Capers
Ernest Dominic "Dom" Capers is an American football coach, the current defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, and the only man to serve two different National Football League expansion teams as their inaugural head coach....
, Davis spent four years with the newly created Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. In his second year with Carolina, linebacker Kevin Greene
Kevin Greene
Kevin Darwin Greene is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League for 15 years and who retired after the 1999 NFL season...
finished first in the NFL in sacks with 14.5, and Lamar Lathon
Lamar Lathon
Lamar Lavante Lathon is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 1st round of the 1990 NFL Draft. A 6'3", 249 lbs...
finished second in the NFL in with sacks with 13.5. Both linebackers went to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
that year.
Cleveland Browns
In 1999, Davis spent a year as a defensive assistant and linebackers coach with the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Green Bay Packers
In 2000, Davis went the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
were he spent the year as a defensive assistant and line coach.
Atlanta Falcons
Davis the went to the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2001, were he spent the next three seasons as the linebackers coach under Dan Reeves
Dan Reeves
Daniel Edward Reeves is a former American football player and head coach. He has participated in more Super Bowls as player/assistant coach/Head Coach than anyone else...
. Davis helped then defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Wade Phillips
Wade Phillips
Wade Allen Phillips is the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans and former head coach for the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills. He was also an interim head coach for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons...
implement his new 3-4 defense
3-4 defense
In American football, the 3–4 defense is a defensive alignment consisting of three down linemen and four linebackers.The 3–4 defense declined in popularity over the years, but has found renewed use by modern professional and college football teams. The 3–4 defense is so named because it involves 3...
. During Davis' three years at Atlanta, linebacker Keith Brooking
Keith Brooking
Keith Howard Brooking is a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech...
went to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
each year.
New York Giants
Davis was the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
linebackers coach in 2004. According to defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Tim Lewis
Tim Lewis
Tim Lewis is an American football coach and former cornerback. He is currently the secondary coach for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League.-Playing career:...
, Billy commanded the room whenever speaking to players and compiled blitz packages, a job usually done by the defensive coordinator.
San Francisco 49ers
On February 6, 2005, Billy Davis was hired by San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
head coach Mike Nolan
Mike Nolan
Mike Nolan is an American football coach and the current defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins...
to be the defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
on the team after a six hour interview. One of the reasons Davis got the job was because he had experience with the 3-4 defense
3-4 defense
In American football, the 3–4 defense is a defensive alignment consisting of three down linemen and four linebackers.The 3–4 defense declined in popularity over the years, but has found renewed use by modern professional and college football teams. The 3–4 defense is so named because it involves 3...
that Coach Nolan wanted to implement in San Francisco's defense and a recommendation Nolan got from New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Tim Lewis
Tim Lewis
Tim Lewis is an American football coach and former cornerback. He is currently the secondary coach for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League.-Playing career:...
.
2005 Season
However, Davis seemed to have difficulty improving the defense. In his first season as the 49ers defensive coordinator, the team ranked last in the NFL in total defense in 20052005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
, averaging 25.8 points a game, a 44.4 % third-down efficiency, and allowing 428 points that season.
2006 Season
In 2006, Davis' defense was ranked 26th in the NFL. Monte Poole of the Oakland Tribune criticized Davis in October, saying "the defensive coordinator Billy Davis, who drifts between the 4-3 scheme and the 3-4 scheme, not only has been incapable of masking these deficiencies but also seems to find ways to accentuate them."As soon as early November, rumors began to swirl that Davis could be fired at the end of the season, if not earlier.
Although the second half of the season saw strong performances from cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
Walt Harris
Walt Harris
Walt Harris is a former American football player and coach in the United States. Harris served as the head football coach at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California from 1989 to 1991, the University of Pittsburgh from 1997 to 2004, and at Stanford University from 2005 to 2006,...
and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Brandon Moore, by the end of the season, the 49ers defense had allowed 412 points in 16 games.
On January 3, 2007, Nolan announced the Davis had been fired stating that "After an evaluation period, we felt this was the right time to make this move". He was replaced by San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
linebackers coach Greg Manusky
Greg Manusky
Gregory Manusky is the current American football defensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He is also a former player, playing linebacker for three teams over twelve years...
.
Arizona Cardinals
On January 19, 2007, just 15 days after he was fired from the 49ers, Davis was hired as the linebackers coachLinebackers coach
A linebackers coach is a position coach in charge of the linebackers in gridiron football. This role is common in the CFL, NFL, and college football programs. The linebackers coach serves the defense, which is led by the defensive coordinator and works with the players of the three linebacker...
for the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. On February 18, 2009, Davis was named the team's defensive coordinator after former defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast
Clancy Pendergast
Clancy Pendergast is the current defensive coordinator for the University of California Golden Bears and the former defensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs...
was fired. Davis was let go after the 2010 season after the Cardinals' poor performance on defense which ranked 31st against the pass, 32nd against the run and 31st overall.