Carl Davis Bio
Carl Davis is an American professional football defensive tackle who has built a resilient NFL career spanning multiple teams since entering the league in 2015. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Davis played college football at the University of Iowa before being selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Known for his size and strength at the defensive tackle position, Davis has contributed as both a starter and rotational player throughout his professional career, having played for eight NFL franchises. Davis founded the Trenchwork Foundation in his hometown of Detroit, reflecting his commitment to community engagement beyond football.
Early Life and Background
Carl Davis grew up in Detroit, Michigan, where his mother Ovella Davis served as a pastor. Davis attended Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights, Michigan, where he developed into a standout football player. He earned first-team All-state honors from the Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News, and The Macomb Daily during his high school career. Davis also received first-team All-conference recognition as a senior after previously earning second-team honors as a junior.
As a junior in high school, Davis recorded 47 tackles including eight tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hurries, and three quarterback sacks while helping his team post a 10-2 record. He followed with 58 tackles and six sacks as a senior, leading his team to a 13-1 record and an appearance in the state championship game at Ford Field. Davis also contributed as a blocker on special teams, recorded two blocked field goals, one interception, and scored one touchdown. Beyond football, he lettered in basketball and track and field, showcasing his athletic versatility.
Path to the NFL
Davis redshirted his true freshman season at the University of Iowa in 2010. He appeared in six games as a redshirt freshman in 2011, recording two tackles. As a sophomore in 2012, Davis played in 11 games and made eight tackles while developing as a rotational player. Davis became a first-year starter in 2013, starting all 13 games and finishing with 42 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He returned as a starter for his senior season in 2014, building on his experience from the previous year.
His college performance earned him second-team All-Big Ten honors in both 2013 and 2014. Davis accepted an invitation to play in the 2015 Senior Bowl with the North team under Tennessee Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt. He dominated practices throughout the week, particularly beating Pitt offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings, and was voted Reese’s Senior Bowl Practice Player of the Week. Davis completed nearly all combine drills while attending as a top defensive end prospect. He was projected as a second-round pick and ranked as high as the fifth-best defensive tackle by Sports Illustrated and sixth-best by NFLDraftScout.com and NFL analyst Mike Mayock.
Carl Davis Career
Baltimore Ravens (2015-2017)
The Baltimore Ravens selected Davis in the third round with the 90th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He fell unexpectedly in the draft despite being the fifth defensive tackle selected behind Danny Shelton, Malcom Brown, Eddie Goldman, and Jordan Phillips. The Ravens signed Davis to a four-year, $2.95 million contract including a $625,084 signing bonus on May 8, 2015. He competed with Brandon Williams and Christo Bilukidi throughout training camp for the starting nose tackle position left vacant by Haloti Ngata’s departure.
Davis made his professional debut in the Ravens’ season-opener against the Denver Broncos, recording three combined tackles and a pass deflection in the 19-13 loss. He earned his first career start on September 27, 2015, against the Cincinnati Bengals and started the following two games in place of an injured Timmy Jernigan. Davis was a healthy scratch for Weeks 12-14 despite his strong start and being the first member of the Ravens’ 2015 draft class to start. He finished his rookie season with 11 tackles and 2 pass deflections across 13 games.
Davis competed with Brandon Williams, Willie Henry, Michael Pierce, and Trevon Coley during training camp in 2016. He sustained an ankle injury during the Ravens’ 23-14 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the pre-season finale and was placed on injured reserve on September 5, 2016, missing the entire season. Davis returned in 2017 to compete for the starting defensive end position and served as a backup behind Brent Urban and Williams. He earned a start on October 1, 2017, after Urban was placed on injured reserve but suffered a hamstring injury the following game that limited his contributions for the remainder of the season. The Ravens released Davis on September 1, 2018.
Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts (2018-2019)
The Cleveland Browns claimed Davis off waivers on September 2, 2018. He played minimally for the Browns, registering just one assisted tackle during the 2018 season. The Browns re-signed Davis to a one-year, $2 million contract on March 12, 2019, but released him on August 31, 2019. Davis then signed with the Indianapolis Colts on October 14, 2019, and was released less than a month later on November 4, 2019.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-2020)
Davis joined the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 25, 2019. On February 4, 2020, he received a four-game suspension to start the season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy. The Jaguars re-signed him in April 2020 but released him in May before re-signing again in August. Davis was reinstated from suspension on October 5, 2020, with the team receiving a roster exemption. He was released on October 12 and signed to the Jaguars’ practice squad the following day.
New England Patriots (2020-2022)
The New England Patriots signed Davis from the Jaguars practice squad on October 14, 2020. He was placed on injured reserve on November 28, 2020, with a concussion and was designated to return from injured reserve on December 17. Davis was not activated before the end of the regular season. He signed a contract extension with the Patriots on March 15, 2021, and re-signed again on April 27, 2022. The Patriots released Davis on August 27, 2023.
Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys (2023)
Davis signed with the Seattle Seahawks practice squad on September 20, 2023, and was waived on October 31. He joined the Dallas Cowboys practice squad on November 16, 2023, and was re-signed on March 6, 2024, before being released on August 15, 2024.
Washington Commanders (2024-Present)
Davis signed with the Washington Commanders practice squad on October 16, 2024. He appeared in three games with the Commanders during the 2024 season, recording three tackles. Davis re-signed with Washington on May 27, 2025.
Carl Davis Career Statistics
Davis has appeared in multiple NFL games across nine seasons with eight different teams. His career statistics reflect his role as a rotational defensive tackle throughout his professional career. His best statistical seasons came during his early career with the Baltimore Ravens and as a depth player with the New England Patriots. Davis has been recognized for his ability to contribute on special teams and in short-yardage situations throughout his career.
NFL Statistics Highlights
Through the 2024 season, Davis has recorded 71 career tackles, 2.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and three pass deflections. His 2.5 career sacks demonstrate his ability to pressure the quarterback from the interior defensive line. Davis has shown consistency as a run defender and has contributed on multiple special teams units throughout his career.
| Statistic | Career Total |
|---|---|
| Tackles | 71 |
| Sacks | 2.5 |
| Fumble Recoveries | 1 |
| Pass Deflections | 3 |
Carl Davis Family
Family Background
Craig Davis was raised in Detroit, Michigan, by his mother Ovella Davis, who serves as a pastor in the city. His family background and roots in Detroit have remained important throughout his professional career, influencing his commitment to giving back to his community through his foundation work.
Personal Life
Davis established the Trenchwork Foundation in Detroit during 2016, demonstrating his dedication to supporting his hometown community. The foundation reflects his commitment to youth development and community engagement beyond his playing career. Davis maintains connections to both Detroit and Iowa, where he spent his formative college years developing as a football player.