Terrell Davis
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Terrell Davis was selected in the sixth round, 196th player overall, of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. The little-known back made a big splash when earned a starting role at tailback as a rookie. He strung together four spectacular seasons before a devastating knee injury, that limited him to just 17 games over his final three seasons, prematurely ended his pro career.
Davis, despite missing the final two games of his rookie campaign with a hamstring tear, eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark and also added a career-high 49 receptions for 367 yards in 1995. Davis improved his rushing total in each of the next three seasons. In his second year, he was named the Offensive Player of the Year when he ran for 1,538 yards and 13 TDs. Davis rushed for 1,750 yards and a league-high 15 TDs in 1997; and in 1998 became just the fourth runner in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. He gained 2,008 yards and again led the NFL with 21 rushing touchdowns to spark the Broncos to a 14-2 regular season record en route to Denver’s second straight Super Bowl title.
Davis shined in the Broncos biggest games as evidenced by him stringing together a NFL playoff record seven straight 100-yard performances spanning the 1997 and ’98 postseasons capped by Denver winning back-to-back Super Bowls. He opened the 1997 playoffs with a 184-yard effort against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card Game followed by 101 yards versus the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional playoff and 139 yards rushing yards in the win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. He then earned MVP honors in Super Bowl XXXII after rushing for 157 yards and three TDs in the Broncos’ 31-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Davis also scored an incredible 8 rushing touchdowns in that ’97 playoff run.
In the 1998 playoffs, Davis rushed for a franchise postseason-record 199 yards against the Miami Dolphins in the divisional playoff, 167 yards versus the New York Jets in the championship and capped the season with 102 yards in the Broncos’ Super Bowl XXXIII victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
A three-time All-Pro selection, Davis rushed for 7,607 yards and 60 TDs in just 78 career games. He added an additional 1,280 yards on 169 career catches and four TD receptions. Davis was elected to three Pro Bowls and named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s.