Bruce Davis (offensive tackle)
{{Short description|American football player (1956–2021)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Bruce Davis
| image = Bruce Davis (offensive tackle).png
| number = 79, 77
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1956|6|21}}
| birth_place = Rutherfordton, North Carolina, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|12|25|1956|6|21}}
| death_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lb = 287
| high_school = Lackey
(Indian Head, Maryland)
| college = UCLA
| draftyear = 1979
| draftround = 11
| draftpick = 294
| pastteams =
- Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders ({{NFL Year|1979}}–{{NFL Year|1987}})
- Houston Oilers (1987–{{NFL Year|1989}})
- Los Angeles Raiders ({{NFL Year|1990}})*
| highlights =
- 2× Super Bowl champion (XV, XVIII)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 160
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 115
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 2
| pfr = DaviBr23
}}
Bruce Edward Davis (June 21, 1956{{snd}}December 25, 2021) was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and the Houston Oilers. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, switching to the offensive line after beginning his collegiate career as a defensive tackle. He won two Super Bowls with the Raiders.
Career
Davis attended the University of California, Los Angeles,{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Foster|title=Their friendship passes screen test|date=December 21, 2007|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-21-sp-ucla21-story.html|access-date=December 27, 2021}} and began his collegiate career with the Bruins as a defensive tackle. He moved to offensive tackle as a senior after the offensive line was beset with injuries.
Davis was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the 11th round of the 1979 NFL draft, his low position due to his limited time as an offensive lineman. Raiders' owner Al Davis admired his lower-body strength.{{cite magazine|first=Peter|last=King|title=Battle of the Bulge|date=September 2, 1991|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/09/02/battle-of-the-bulge-even-in-a-big-mans-game-extra-pounds-can-weigh-heavily-on-a-players-career|access-date=December 28, 2021}} Mentored out of college by the Raiders' Art Shell,{{cite news|first=Chris|last=Baker|title=Davis on Program to Tackle Weighty Issue|date=August 9, 1990|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-09-sp-531-story.html|access-date=December 28, 2021}} Bruce Davis became a full-time starter at left tackle by 1982, when he supplanted Shell.{{cite news|title=Gene Upshaw and Art Shell, two of the finest...|date=December 24, 1982|publisher=United Press International|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/12/24/Gene-Upshaw-and-Art-Shell-two-of-the-finest/3020409554000/|access-date=December 28, 2021}} Davis won two Super Bowls with the Raiders (XV in 1981, XVIII in 1984), and teammates voted him the team's best offensive lineman in 1985.
In 1987, Davis was traded mid-season to the Houston Oilers, who were 5–2 and contending for the playoffs.{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Heisler|title=Raiders Trade Davis to Oilers for Draft Pick|date=November 4, 1987|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-11-04-sp-12340-story.html|access-date=December 28, 2021}} He played in 43 consecutive games for the Oilers until he was released after the 1989 season. He had been holding out, seeking a new contract after making $435,000 in the past season. He had arthroscopic surgery on both knees that offseason and fell to third on the depth chart at left tackle behind Don Maggs and David Williams.{{cite news|title=Oilers release Bruce Davis, sign draft pick Alm|date=July 27, 1990|publisher=United Press International|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/07/27/Oilers-release-Bruce-Davis-sign-draft-pick-Alm/4819649051200/|access-date=December 28, 2021}} Davis re-signed with the Raiders prior to the 1990 exhibition season,{{cite news|title=SIDELINES : Raiders Sign Up Tackle Davis|date=July 31, 1990|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-31-sp-1388-story.html|access-date=December 28, 2021}} but he was released before the regular-season opener.{{cite news|title=Raiders to sign Beuerlein, cut 10 players|date=September 3, 1990|publisher=United Press International|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/09/03/Raiders-to-sign-Beuerlein-cut-10-players/7156652334400/|access-date=December 28, 2021}} He ended his 11-year career with 160 games played and 115 starts.{{cite web|title=Raiders Family mourns passing of Bruce Davis|date=December 27, 2021|publisher=Las Vegas Raiders|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-family-mourns-passing-of-bruce-davis|access-date=December 29, 2021}}
Personal life
Davis was born on June 21, 1956, in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, and graduated from Henry E. Lackey High School in Indian Head, Maryland.{{Cite pro-football-reference|name=Bruce Davis|id=D/DaviBr23|accessdate=December 29, 2021}}{{cite web|title=Lowering of the Flag: Bruce Davis|date=December 28, 2021|publisher=Charles County, Maryland|url=https://www.charlescountymd.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3719/400|access-date=December 29, 2021}}
After his playing career, he became a high school history and geography teacher.{{cite news|first=Ron|last=Borges|title=A unique family business|date=December 24, 2009|newspaper=Boston Herald|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2009/12/24/a-unique-family-business/|access-date=December 28, 2021}}
Davis's son Bruce II also attended UCLA and was an All-American at defensive end with the Bruins, and played professionally as well for the Oakland Raiders.{{cite news|title=Reality of Al Davis' death hits Raiders|date=October 12, 2011|newspaper=Nevada Appeal|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2011/oct/12/reality-of-al-davis-death-hits-raiders/|access-date=December 28, 2021}} They are one of the few father–son combos to have played on teams that reached the Super Bowl; Bruce II was a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers squad that advanced to Super Bowl XLIII.{{cite news|first=Joe|last=Kendle|title=Father's Day on the big stage|date=June 16, 2019|newspaper=Canton Repository|url=https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/canton/2019/06/16/father-x2019-s-day-on/4898743007/|access-date=December 30, 2021}}{{cite news|title=Davises and Super Bowls|date=January 23, 2009|newspaper=The Orange County Register|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2009/01/23/davises-and-super-bowls/|access-date=December 30, 2021}}
Davis died on December 25, 2021, in Houston, Texas,{{cite news|title=Bruce Davis|date=January 6, 2022|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/houstonchronicle/name/bruce-davis-obituary?id=32125579|access-date=January 13, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mccoyandharrison.com/bruce-davis-1956-2021/ |title=Bruce Davis|accessdate=January 9, 2021|publisher=McCoy & Harrison Funeral Home}} at the age of 65.{{cite news|url = https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/12/27/former-raiders-left-tackle-bruce-davis-dies-at-65/|title = Former Raiders left tackle Bruce Davis dies at 65|last = Williams|first = Charean|work = Profootballtalk.com|publisher = NBC Sports|date = December 27, 2021|accessdate = December 27, 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Football stats |nfl=bruce-davis-3 |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=DaviBr23 |rotoworld= }}
{{Raiders1979DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XV}}
{{Super Bowl XVIII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Bruce}}
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Houston Oilers players
Category:Los Angeles Raiders players
Category:Oakland Raiders players
Category:People from Rutherfordton, North Carolina
Category:Sportspeople from Rutherford County, North Carolina