When will Demario Davis choose to retire? It’s a fair question. He’s one of the oldest defenders in the NFL and one of the most-experienced pros regardless of position. The New Orleans Saints linebacker’s 180 career starts are tenth-most among active players. Some day, sooner or later, he’s going to step away from the game.
And when Colin Cowherd asked him when that might be, Davis reflected on his career to this point. He acknowledged that retirement was something he’s considered before, back when he was a member of a struggling Cleveland Browns team. He’d been worn down by four years of wear and tear with the New York Jets before signing with the Browns, who went 1-15. He’d asked himself if continuing on was worth it.
“I mean I go back to 2017, I was in Cleveland, like I was ready to retire,” Davis recounted. “And I said to God, I said ‘My body is broken down, my mind is broken down. I can’t do it anymore. But if you want me to go forward I’ll keep going.'”
Davis credits his Christian faith for giving him the resilience to keep going — the Browns traded him back to the Jets that summer and he signed with the Saints as a free agent the next year. The rest is history. He made the Associated Press All-Pro first team in 2019 and has been recognized on the second team every season since. He’s the oldest linebacker in the NFL and still playing at a high level as he invests in a six-figure support staff to help him prepare to fight Father Time.
And his perspective on retirement is the same. Davis says it won’t the team’s performance or gut instinct that determines when he should hang up his cleats: “I think it’s all about identity and knowing who you are. I’ve been so blessed by this game, I’ve played a lot longer than I ever thought I would. I’ve had a chance to experience so much. And to be able to be where I am, and to have set my family up for far longer after I leave this place. You know, why am I still playing? It’s because God is not done with what he’s doing with me in the game yet. I’ll play as long as he tells me to keep going.”
The Saints have already laid the groundwork for continuing on without Davis when he chooses to call it a career. Pete Werner signed a three-year extension this summer that ties to the team through 2027, ensuring some consistency at linebacker once Davis is ready to rest. But for now he’s working hard to lead the team himself. Davis has acknowledged before that the Saints have not met their standards or fans’ expectations in recent years. He can’t control everything, but he’s endeavoring to perfect as much as he can, so he can help as many people as he can and make a positive impact on his teammates. Leaving a legacy he can be proud of doesn’t stop at the football field.
