Tony Davis (American football)
Encyclopedia
Michael E. "Tony" Davis (born January 21, 1953) is a former American football
running back
in the National Football League
. Davis played both I-back and fullback for new Head Coach Tom Osborne at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He was Osborne's first 1,000 yard rusher and when he left the Cornhuskers, he was the school's all-time leading rusher. Davis was a 4th round selection (106th overall pick) out of Nebraska by the Cincinnati Bengals
in the 1976 NFL Draft
. Davis played six seasons for the Bengals (1976–1978) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(1979–1981). In 1977, Davis was selected the Bengals team MVP by a vote of players and fans. Davis also played one season for the Boston Breakers of the USFL.
While at Nebraska, Davis was the Most Valuable Player in two of college football's "Big Four" Bowl games in the same calendar year, the January 1, 1974 Cotton Bowl win over the University of Texas 19-3 and the December 31, 1974 Sugar Bowl win over the University of Florida
13-10. Davis was elected to the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.
Since his retirement, Davis has worked as an football assistant at Nebraska, coached high school football in Colorado, and worked in Marketing. Currently, Davis is an advocate who works in communication with Congress to address issues prevalent to retired NFL players. He is also an owner/operator of radio station AM 870 KJMP, an ESPN Radio affiliate in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the National Football League
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...
. Davis played both I-back and fullback for new Head Coach Tom Osborne at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He was Osborne's first 1,000 yard rusher and when he left the Cornhuskers, he was the school's all-time leading rusher. Davis was a 4th round selection (106th overall pick) out of Nebraska by the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
in the 1976 NFL Draft
1976 NFL Draft
The 1976 National Football League Draft was an annual player selection meeting held on April 8–April 9, 1976. It lasted 17 rounds, with the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks making the first two selections. The expansion teams were also given a pair of extra picks at the end of...
. Davis played six seasons for the Bengals (1976–1978) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
(1979–1981). In 1977, Davis was selected the Bengals team MVP by a vote of players and fans. Davis also played one season for the Boston Breakers of the USFL.
While at Nebraska, Davis was the Most Valuable Player in two of college football's "Big Four" Bowl games in the same calendar year, the January 1, 1974 Cotton Bowl win over the University of Texas 19-3 and the December 31, 1974 Sugar Bowl win over the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
13-10. Davis was elected to the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.
Since his retirement, Davis has worked as an football assistant at Nebraska, coached high school football in Colorado, and worked in Marketing. Currently, Davis is an advocate who works in communication with Congress to address issues prevalent to retired NFL players. He is also an owner/operator of radio station AM 870 KJMP, an ESPN Radio affiliate in Fort Collins, Colorado.