Khalil Davis Bio
Khalil Davis (born August 22, 1996) is an American former professional football player who played as a defensive tackle. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 2015 to 2019 and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Davis won a Super Bowl championship with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV and later captured a USFL championship with the Birmingham Stallions in 2023. Throughout his professional career, he has played for multiple NFL and spring league teams before joining the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Khalil Davis was born on August 22, 1996, in Blue Springs, Missouri. He attended Blue Springs High School in his hometown, where he developed his skills as a football player during his high school years. Davis grew up alongside his twin brother, Carlos Davis. The brothers were adopted by their parents, Carl and Tracy Davis, when they were nine months old, forming a close family bond that continued throughout their athletic careers.
College Career at Nebraska
Davis was a highly regarded recruit coming out of high school, earning a four-star prospect rating. He committed to play college football at the University of Nebraska over offers from several major programs, including Arkansas, Indiana, and Oregon. Over four seasons with the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 2015 to 2019, he appeared in 47 games with 11 starts, steadily developing into a key contributor on the defensive line.
His most productive seasons came in 2018 and 2019, when he earned Nebraska’s Defensive Lineman of the Year award both years. He recorded 11.0 sacks and 26 tackles for loss during his junior and senior seasons combined. As a senior in 2019, he led the team with eight sacks and contributed 45 total tackles, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors for his performance.
Beyond football, Davis was a successful multi-sport athlete at Nebraska. He competed on the Cornhuskers track and field team as a discus thrower and qualified for the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, showcasing his exceptional athleticism.
Khalil Davis Career
NFL Journey and Team Stops
Davis entered the 2020 NFL Draft after completing his college career. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.75 seconds, which ranked sixth fastest among all defensive linemen at the event. His draft day arrived when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him with the 194th overall pick in the sixth round. Davis quickly made an impact in his rookie season, contributing to a Buccaneers team that won Super Bowl LV. He appeared in eight games with one start during his first season in Tampa Bay.
The 2021 season brought significant movement for Davis. The Buccaneers waived him in October 2021, but the Indianapolis Colts claimed him off waivers shortly after. His time with the Colts proved brief, as they waived him later that same month. Davis then signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad in November 2021. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Steelers in January 2022, though he was waived during final roster cuts in August 2022.
Davis returned to the Buccaneers practice squad in September 2022 before joining the Los Angeles Rams practice squad in December 2022. Following the conclusion of the 2022 season, he shifted his focus to spring football, signing with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL in March 2023. Davis played a key role in helping the Stallions capture the USFL championship that season.
After his successful stint in the USFL, Davis signed with the Houston Texans in August 2023. He spent time on their practice squad before being promoted to the active roster in September 2023. Davis remained with the Texans through the 2024 season before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in November 2024 in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He appeared in three games with the 49ers, recording three combined tackles before announcing his retirement from professional football in July 2025.
Return to Birmingham Stallions
Following his brief retirement, Davis came out of retirement in September 2025 and signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League. This move reunited him with his twin brother, Carlos Davis, who was also on the Stallions roster. The Davis brothers’ reunion added experience and depth to Birmingham’s defensive line as they prepared for the upcoming UFL season.
Playing Style and Strengths
Davis built his reputation as a reliable interior defensive lineman with a powerful combination of speed and strength. His 4.75-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine demonstrated the quickness that allowed him to penetrate offensive lines and disrupt opposing backfields. He showed consistent ability to generate pressure on quarterbacks, finishing his college career with 11 career sacks and demonstrating the pass-rushing skill set that translated to the professional level.
Notable Achievements and Milestones
Throughout his football career, Davis achieved several significant milestones at both the collegiate and professional levels. His back-to-back Defensive Lineman of the Year awards at Nebraska highlighted his dominance in college. At the professional level, winning Super Bowl LV with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a rookie represented the pinnacle of his NFL career. His USFL championship victory with Birmingham in 2023 added another championship ring to his resume, demonstrating his ability to contribute at multiple levels of professional football.
Khalil Davis Career Wins
Davis accumulated notable achievements across his nine-year professional football career spanning both NFL and spring league competition. His versatility allowed him to contribute to winning teams at multiple levels of the sport.
Championship Highlights
His most prestigious accomplishment came in February 2021 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, giving Davis his first championship ring as a rookie contributor. He later captured the USFL championship in 2023 with the Birmingham Stallions, further cementing his reputation as a player who makes impacts in crucial moments.
Career Statistics
Davis recorded 46 total tackles, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 pass deflections across his NFL career. His collegiate career at Nebraska featured 47 games played with 11 starts, 11.0 sacks, and 26 tackles for loss over his final two seasons. He earned Third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2019 and was a two-time recipient of Nebraska’s Defensive Lineman of the Year award.
| Competition Level | Category | Statistic |
|---|---|---|
| NFL Career | Total Tackles | 46 |
| NFL Career | Sacks | 3 |
| NFL Career | Forced Fumbles | 1 |
| College (2018-2019) | Sacks | 11.0 |
| College (2018-2019) | Tackles for Loss | 26 |
Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Khalil Davis shares a unique family connection with his twin brother, Carlos Davis, who also pursued a professional football career. The Davis twins were adopted together as infants by Carl and Tracy Davis, who raised them in Blue Springs, Missouri. Their shared passion for football led both brothers through successful collegiate careers at Nebraska and eventually into professional football. The twins’ bond has remained strong throughout their football journeys, culminating in their reunion on the Birmingham Stallions roster in 2025.
Personal Life
Beyond football, Khalil Davis has maintained a commitment to athletic excellence demonstrated by his multi-sport participation. His success as a discus thrower at Nebraska, culminating in a qualification for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2019, showcased the athletic ability that complemented his football skills. Davis’s journey from a high school athlete in Blue Springs to a professional football player with championship experience reflects his dedication to his craft and his family values.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a new chapter in Khalil Davis’s football career as he transitioned from retirement back to professional play with the Birmingham Stallions in the United Football League. Davis announced his retirement from professional football in July 2025 but reversed that decision just two months later when he signed with Birmingham in September 2025. This return demonstrated his continued passion for the sport and desire to compete at a high level.
Joining the Stallions provided Davis with an opportunity to reunite with his twin brother Carlos on the same roster for the first time as professionals. The brothers’ shared history at Nebraska and throughout their football careers created an interesting dynamic for Birmingham’s defensive unit. Davis brought veteran experience from his nine years of professional football, including valuable knowledge from his time with multiple NFL organizations.
The Stallions entered the 2025 season with high expectations following their 2023 USFL championship, and Davis’s addition strengthened their defensive line rotation. His ability to rush the passer, stop the run, and provide leadership in the locker room made him a valuable asset for Birmingham’s championship aspirations. The UFL continued to grow as a spring football option, and Davis’s participation added credibility to the league’s talent level as a player with extensive NFL experience.