NFL CAREER – In his first season with the Black and Gold, Demario Davis supplied a major impact to the Saints defense, being named a defensive captain and helping New Orleans finish ranked second in the league against the run. This dependable and sure-tackling defender came to New Orleans from the New York Jets and opened all 16 games, posting a team-high 110 tackles, five sacks, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. For his career, the Brandon, Miss. native has appeared in 112 games with 98 starts for the Saints, Jets (2012-15, 2017), and Cleveland Browns (2016), recording 770 tackles (503 solo), 18.5 sacks, one interception, 21 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and 24 special team stops.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by Saints to three-year contract (UFA-NYJ), 3/19/18; Traded by Browns to Jets, 6/1/17; Signed by Browns to two-year contract (UFA-NYJ); Signed four-year contract with Jets, 6/1/12; Selected by the New York Jets in the third round (77th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.
HONORS – 2018: NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week Four).
2018- Started all 16 games and both postseason contests for the Saints at weakside linebacker…Posted a team high 110 tackles (74 solo), tied a career high with five sacks and added four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery...Recorded eight tackles (five solo) in season opener vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 9…Recorded nine tackles (three solo) and a forced fumble, playing a key role in a run-stopping effort where New Orleans gave up only 3.4 yards per carry vs. Cleveland, Sept. 16…Finished with a team-leading nine tackles (six solo) and one quarterback hit, helping lead a front seven in a run-stopping effort that surrendered only 48 yards rushing on 22 carries (2.2 avg.) at Atlanta, Sept. 23…Recorded team-high 11 tackles (nine solo) and tied a career-high with two sacks with Saints giving up only 299 total net yards, at N.Y. Giants, Sept. 30, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week…Recorded six tackles (five solo) as Saints gave up only 39 yards rushing on 18 attempts (2.2 avg.), vs. Washington, Oct. 8…Finished with six tackles (five solo) and one pass defensed, as New Orleans gave up only 77 yards rushing on 23 carries (3.3 avg.), at Baltimore, Oct. 21...Finished with six tackles (five solo) in Sunday night win at Minnesota, Oct. 28, as New Orleans surrendered only 85 yards rushing on 22 attempts (3.9 avg.)...Finished with a team-high seven tackles (five solo) vs. L.A. Rams, Nov. 4…Finished with five tackles (three solo) to tie for team lead at Cincinnati, Nov. 11…Finished with three solo tackles vs. Philadelphia, Nov. 18…Finished with six tackles (five solo), a sack for seven yards, and a forced fumble vs. Atlanta, Nov. 22...Finished with 11 tackles (five solo) at Dallas, Nov. 29...Finished with eight tackles (seven solo) and one pass defensed at Tampa Bay, Dec. 9...Led the team with eight tackles (four solo), including one sack at Carolina, Dec. 17. Also recorded two passes defensed. Reached the century mark in tackles for fifth time at Carolina…Recorded fifth sack of season, tying his career-high, vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 23. On the Steelers’ final play from scrimmage, a first-and-ten from the New Orleans 42-yard line, recovered a fumble at the New Orleans 35 to clinch the win. Finished with three total tackles…Finished with four tackles (one solo) to end regular season with a team-high 110 stops vs. Carolina, Dec. 30… Making his playoff debut in the NFC Divisional Playoff vs. Philadelphia, Jan. 13, Davis led the Saints’ defense with eight tackles… In the NFC Championship vs. L.A. Rams, Jan. 20, led team with 14 tackles (10 solo), a one-yard interception return and a pass defensed. 2017- Started all 16 games for the Jets at inside linebacker for New York and posted team-best and career-high 165 tackles (112 solo), a career-best five sacks, tied for second in the NFL among inside linebackers, three passes defensed and one fumble recovery…In his first game back at Buffalo, Sept. 10, Davis led the team in tackles (14). Also added a half-sack, split with teammate LB Josh Martin…At Cleveland, Oct. 8, led the Jets in tackles for fifth straight week (nine), adding team-high four quarterback hits, one which was a hit on QB Kevin Hogan, leading to an interception by teammate CB Morris Clairborne…Tied teammate LB Darron Lee for team lead in tackles (11) and added fourth quarter nine-yard sack at Miami, Oct. 22…Vs. Buffalo, Nov. 2, tied Lee for the team lead in tackles with 11. Davis added a three-yard sack of QB Tyrod Taylor in the second quarter and a fourth quarter recovery of a fumble by Taylor that set up a touchdown on the next play…Vs. Carolina, Nov. 12, for eighth time of season, Davis led the Jets in tackles with 14. In the third quarter with Carolina backed up at their own 14-yard line, Davis recorded a third down sack to force a punt…At Denver, Dec. 10, Davis recorded a career-high 16 tackles, including one stop for loss and a half-sack, split with fellow LB David Bass. The sack brought Davis’ total to a team-best five, the most he recorded in a single season in his six-year career. 2016- Voted as a season-long captain by his teammates in his only season in Cleveland who signed him in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent from the New York Jets…Finished second on team with 99 tackles and added 2.0 sacks, two passes defensed and one forced fumble. Dec. 18, at Buffalo, recorded ten tackles, tying his season-high for third time in 2016…Nov. 10 at Baltimore, Registered first sack of season and finished the game with three tackles…Nov. 6 vs. Dallas, forced first fumble of season, jarring the ball loose from RB Ezekiel Elliott, while matching a season-high with ten tackles. 2015- Started all 16 games and finished with a team-high 114 tackles, five passes defensed, 2.0 sacks and a fumble recovery for Jets. Dec. 13 vs. Tennessee, earned his second sack of the season when he took down QB Marcus Mariota for a loss of 13 yards on fourth down to halt a Titans fourth quarter drive…Nov. 12 vs. Buffalo, tied for the team lead with nine tackles (seven solo) and registered his first sack of the season, bringing down Taylor for one-yard loss…Oct. 4 at Miami, recorded three passes defensed, four tackles and two QB hurries…Nov. 27 vs. Philadelphia, registered 15 total tackles (including two for loss)...Recovered a fumble by RB Ryan Mathews, which was forced by fellow LB David Harris. 2014- Started all 16 games for Jets…Recorded 125 tackles, 3.5 sacks, six passes defensed and two fumble recoveries…Dec. 28 at Miami, in the fourth quarter, sacked QB Ryan Tannehill for a loss of seven yards and increased single-season sack total to 3.5. Finished with four tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery…Dec. 21 vs. New England, combined with S Antonio Allen to bring down QB Tom Brady for a loss of eight yards...Also tallied 12 tackles, a pass defensed and a QB hit…Sept. 22 vs. Chicago, led the team with 12 total tackles and also recorded a half sack for loss of 0.5 yards, recovered a fumble and broke up a pass…Sept. 14 at Green Bay, recorded his first-career multi-sack performance, finishing with two sacks of QB Aaron Rodgers for loss of 22 yards...Also totaled seven tackles (including two for loss), three QB hits and one QB hurry. 2013- Started all 16 games for the Jets, ranking second on the team with 120 tackles (75 solo)…Recorded one sack and one interception…Nov. 2 vs. New Orleans, recorded his first-career interception when he picked off a QB Drew Brees pass intended for TE Benjamin Watson in the first quarter…Sept. 22 vs. Buffalo, amassed nine tackles (including one for loss)...Recorded his first career sack when he dropped QB E.J. Manuel for a three-yard loss…Sept. 8, vs. Tampa Bay, logged seven tackles, including a TD-saving run-down of WR Vincent Jackson to help win game. 2012- Played in all 16 games with three starts as rookie, making three starts. For the Jets, finished second on the team with 16 special teams tackles…Recorded 33 defensive tackles (21 solo) and a fumble recovery…Nov. 22 vs. New England, recorded season-high eight tackles…Oct. 21 at New England, made first NFL start, recording seven tackles.
COLLEGE- Played in 48 career games at Arkansas State, starting the final 37. Amassed 230 career tackles, seven sacks, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, including one returned 53 yards for a touchdown…Added seven passes defensed and four interceptions, including a 75-yard TD…Three-time All-Sun Belt Conference…Earned degree in communications…Named to Arkansas State’s Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll multiple times.
PERSONAL- Prepped at Brandon (Ms.) HS and lead the team to its 14th playoff appearance in a 16-year period with a 7-5 record…Recorded 81 tackles, six interceptions and one sack as senior…2006 All-Region 3-5A, MAC First Team All-State and Clarion Ledger All-Metro selection…Played mostly wide receiver as sophomore and junior…Recorded four touchdowns and 386 receiving yards as a senior team captain…Starter on the basketball team and competed in the high jump with the track & field team…The cousin of the late Steve McNair, the standout quarterback for the Tennessee Titans (1995-2005) and Baltimore Ravens (2006-07)…Held an internship with the United Way in Washington D.C. in 2017…Participated in the Willie Colon Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) Golf Outing, benefiting the ALR Jean Davis Research Grant…Partnered with Saks Fifth Avenue as part of the “Taste of the New York Jets” on a fashion show with teammates to raise funds for the Food Bank for New York City…Founded the Devoted Dreamers Academy and hosts annual youth summer camps for middle school youth in Jackson …Received the Athletes In Action 2018 Call To Courage Award, which honors an NFL Player who displays exemplary character and leadership and a strong commitment to Christian Faith…An active participant in the team’s social justice initiatives in the New Orleans community…In December, gifted a handicapped accessible van for the family of a teenager Sam Butler, who he befriended, who is recovering from a shooting…Distributed Christmas gifts to underprivileged children on behalf of the Fore Kids Foundation…Born on January 11, 1989 in Collins, Ms..
