A True South Georgia Hero
From a tough home life to the NFL, Thomas Davis is making a difference through charities for underprivileged children.
A 6'1" and 235 pound frame should not be able to run a 4.6 second forty-yard dash, but Thomas Davis is an exception. Over the course of his 13 seasons in the National Football League, he has earned the reputation as one of the best linebackers in the league, despite 3 ACL tears in the same leg. He is the first player to ever have that many. His ongoing NFL career is nothing short of monumental, and despite this, his humble beginnings and actions off the field are far more impressive.
Davis grew up in the small town of Shellman in Southwest Georgia, with a population of just over 1,000 people. His father was never around, so his mother was left to raise both him and his sister without any help. Unable to hold a job, Davis’ mother relied heavily on the government to support herself and her children each month. Living month to month, the Davis’ often struggled after the money ran out to find ways to eat until the money returned the following month.
It was by no means easy to grow up in that household, according to Davis. As an outsider looking in, it may seem obvious, but Davis was oblivious to the extent of how poor his living conditions were until he matured and noticed that his home life was far from normal. In order to have any light in their home, Davis would run an extension cord from a neighbors house to power a single light. Warm baths were only achievable by boiling hot water on the stove and transferring it to the bathroom. Davis and his sister were forced to take as many odd jobs as they could to help out their mother. According to Davis, these jobs included picking peas and pecans, bailing hay, and working in any sort of way they could to help out. These were just a few hardships that faced Thomas Davis as a child.
In his junior year of high school, Davis’ mother got a job in Alabama and moved there with his sister. Despite the painful separation from his family, Davis chose to stay in Shellman to continue working towards his football career. The challenges that he faced living on his own at such a young age were some of the most difficult he’s faced in his lifetime. Luckily, his close-knit community jumped at opportunities to help provide him with his basic necessities like a bar of soap or a t-shirt. It is the years fending for himself and receiving help that gave Davis the burning desire to give back later in his life. He was raised by the community of Shellman until football landed him in Athens.
Thomas Davis’s preformances at UGA carried him to the NFL where he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2005. Davis entered the league already having a reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the draft, and he delivered. He has been laying thunderous blows in the backfield ever since, making offenses re-evaluate their game plan. During his time at Carolina, Davis was faced with injuries including his three ACL tears. Time and time again, Davis recovered, making his journey more incredible with each accomplishment. In fact, his ability to overcome every obstacle throughout his career is exactly what landed him awards such as the 2014 Walter Payton Man of the Year and the Bart Starr Award. Unlike the many awards Davis earned on the field, these awards highlight his character and his journey. Both speak wonders as they are awards that recognize athletic achievements as well as character and leadership shown off the field.
Now, Davis uses his influence to improve the lives of young people that are facing struggles similar to his own. With the help of his wife, Kelly, Thomas Davis launched the Defending Dreams Foundation, which is a charity that provides assistance to underprivileged families in both Georgia and the Carolinas. With his Foundation, the Davis’ strive to provide resources as simple as pencils all the way to life time skills such as leadership through the Youth Leadership Academy. Having been taken care of by his community, Thomas Davis hopes to give back by providing kids similar to him with the support and compassion that was shown to him. However, Davis’ goal is not only to rise up and make a difference himself, but to inspire others to do the same.
Thomas Davis has overcome adversity on and off the football field in the most impressive way possible, which is why he truly defines the heroes journey. He uses his charity to give hope where there is none and to make the impossible possible for young people.
