PRO CAREER – A 2018 first round pick with the ability to rush the passer, Davenport has posted 21 sacks and eight forced fumbles his first four seasons, despite missing 17 contests due to injuries. In 11 games with nine starts in 2021, despite missing six contests (shoulder, knee and elbow), Davenport posted a career-high 39 tackles (23 solo), a career-best 9.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery.Â
TRANSACTIONS –Activated from Injured Reserve, 10/25/21; Placed on Injured Reserve, 9/17/21; Fifth-year option exercised by New Orleans, 4/29/21; Placed on Injured Reserve, 12/11/19; Signed to a four-year contract, 5/10/18; Selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.
HONORS – 2018: PFWA All-Rookie.
2021 – Appeared in 11 games with nine starts, setting career highs in sacks (9.0) and tackles (39 solo), adding three forced fumbles to go with two passes defensed and his first career fumble recovery…In opener vs. Green Bay, Sept. 12, started and recorded three tackles (two solo) and one sack, taking down QB Aaron Rodgers in the second quarter to help Saints win 38-3…Placed on Injured Reserve (shoulder), Sept. 17 and activated, Oct. 25…Vs. Atlanta, Nov. 7, started and recorded six tackles (three solo), a sack and a forced fumble…At Tennessee, Nov. 14, started and recorded three solo tackles and two sacks…At Philadelphia, Nov. 21, started and recorded a career-high ten tackles (six solo) with 1.5 sacks, his third straight game with at least one takedown for the first time…At Tampa Bay, Dec. 19, started and recorded three solo tackles in New Orleans' 9-0 win, only the third time QB Tom Brady was shutout in his career…Vs. Miami, Dec. 27, started and finished game with five tackles (two solo), one forced fumble and one sack…Vs. Carolina, 1/2/22, started and finished with two tackles and his first career fumble recovery…In the season finale at Atlanta, 1/9/22, started and recorded two tackles (one solo) along with one forced fumble and 1.5 sacks, giving him a career-best nine on the season. 2020 – In 11 games with one start, missing the first four (elbow), posted 21 tackles (12 solo), 1.5 sacks and two passes defensed…Posted three tackles and his fourth quarter sack of QB Teddy Bridgewater sealed the victory for New Orleans vs. Carolina, Oct. 27…Split a sack of Bears QB Nick Foles and had season-high four tackles at Chicago, Nov. 1…Finished with four tackles (three solo) in two postseason games. 2019 – Started the first 13 games and finished the season with 31 tackles (15 solo), six sacks and four forced fumbles…Made his first career start in opener vs. Houston, Sept. 9 and recorded two solo tackles…Finished with three tackles (two solo) and one sack at L.A. Rams, Sept. 15…Posted seven tackles (two solo) at Seattle, Sept. 22…Finished with one assisted tackle vs. Dallas, Sept. 29, as the Cowboys managed only 45 rushing yards on 20 carries (2.5 avg.)…Tied career-high for sacks (two), and added two solo tackles and one forced fumble vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 6…At Chicago, Oct. 20, finished with an assisted tackle, powering a run defense that surrendered only 17 yards, fifth-lowest total in franchise history and did not give up a rushing first down for only the fourth time in club record books…In come-from-behind fourth quarter win vs. Carolina, Nov. 24, took down Panthers QB Kyle Allen with 2:10 left to play in contest and added three tackles…For a defense that tied a franchise-record with nine sacks on Thanksgiving night at Atlanta, posted two takedowns for third time, set a career-best with three forced fumbles and added four solo stops.  2018 – Appeared in 13 regular season games, missing three (toe), posting 22 tackles (12 solo), 4.5 sacks for 31.5 yards lost, two passes defensed and one forced fumble. Tied for third on New Orleans in sacks…Recorded a solo tackle and his first career takedown at Atlanta, Sept. 23…Had three tackles, a sack, a pass defensed and a forced fumble vs. Washington, Oct. 8…Had career-high two sacks vs. Minnesota, Oct. 28…After missing the next three games, returned to action on Thanksgiving night vs. Atlanta, Nov. 22 and posted an assisted tackle…Posted four tackles (two solo) at Tampa Bay, Dec. 9…Had a split sack and three tackles (one solo), in season finale vs. Carolina, Dec. 30…Appeared in both postseason contests. In NFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. Philadelphia, 1/13/19, had a solo tackle…In NFC Championship Game vs. L.A. Rams, 1/20/19, had three tackles (two solo).
COLLEGE CAREER – During his four collegiate seasons at Texas-San Antonio, Davenport notched career totals of 186 tackles (97 solo), 22 sacks, 38 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one returned for a touchdown and eight passes defensed, finishing his career as the school's all-time leader for stops for loss, takedowns and quarterback hurries (21)…Tabbed 2017 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Conference selection as senior…Member of the Chuck Bednarik Award and Wuerffel Trophy watch lists…Posted 55 tackles (30 solo) and set school records with 17.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, eight QB hurries, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles and a fumble return for a touchdown…Posted at least one tackle for loss in eight different contests…In 2016, second-team All-Conference USA selection played in all 13 games (12 starts) and led the squad's defensive linemen with 68 tackles (31 solo), including ten for loss, a team-leading marks of 6.5 sacks and a program-record eight quarterback hurries…Finished season strong by posting 38 stops, seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in the last six outings…In 2015, earned honorable mention All-Conference USA honors…Started 11 contests and recorded 49 tackles (30 solo) and ranked second on team with 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks…Also racked up four QB hurries, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles...In 2014, saw action in the first 11 games and registered 14 tackles and three sacks…Graduated with a degree in multidisciplinary studies.
PERSONAL – First-team All-District 27-5A performer at John Paul Stevens (San Antonio, Texas) HS, where he recorded 73 tackles, including ten stops for loss, six sacks and six passes defensed as a senior…Earned second-team All-District as a junior after racking up 42 stops…Also an area qualifier in the 1,600m relay and shot put in track and field, also playing for the basketball team…Davenport has multiple family members from New Orleans including his father, Ron and late grandfather Dr. Artis Davenport II, a member of the Allstate Sugar Bowl's Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame for a storied career as head coach of Southern University of New Orleans' track and field team…Dr. Davenport was a member of the inaugural SUNO Athletic Hall of Fame class, where his men's outdoor teams won NCAA Division III national championships three times, as well as NAIA Division I women's indoor and outdoor championships (1995 and 1997)…Dr. Davenport also coached at Dillard University and Alcorn State and served in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer…Marcus' father served in the Air Force…In 2019, participated in "#DoRight4LA Day with the Saints and Dudley DeBosier" volunteering with teammates to complete renovations to the exterior of a house…Played in the 2019 Saints Hall of Fame Golf Tournament…Participated in several PSA's encouraging local residents to take proper precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic…Marcus James Davenport was born on September 4, 1996 in San Antonio, Texas.
