Ernie Davis

Lore & Background

Davis was born in New Salem, Pennsylvania. His father was killed in an accident shortly after his birth, and his mother could not raise him alone. At 14 months, he was cared for by his maternal grandparents. At age 12, he went to live with his mother and stepfather in Elmira, New York. He attended Elmira Free Academy, where he earned two All-American honors. He chose to attend Syracuse University after being persuaded by Jim Brown. Davis played football for coach Ben Schwartzwalder from 1959 to 1961, twice winning first-team All-American honors. As a sophomore, he led the 1959 Syracuse team to a national championship, capping an 11–0 season with a 23–14 win over the Texas Longhorns in the 1960 Cotton Bowl Classic, where he was named Most Valuable Player. That same season, Elmira Star-Gazette sports writer Al Mallette coined the nickname 'Elmira Express'. In his junior year, he set a record of 7.8 yards per carry and was the third leading rusher in the country with 877 yards. In his senior year, the 1961 Orangemen finished 8–3, closing with a 15–14 victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the Liberty Bowl. Davis became the first black athlete to be awarded the Heisman Trophy and also won the Walter Camp Memorial Trophy. President John F. Kennedy requested to meet him while he was in New York to receive the trophy. During his time at Syracuse, Davis wore the same number, 44, as had Jim Brown. Davis also played basketball at Syracuse for one season 1960–1961. While attending Syracuse, Davis was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, the first African-American to become part of the organization nationally. He was also a candidate in the university's Army ROTC program and was commissioned as a second lieutenant following graduation. Davis was posthumously inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979. In 1999, Sports Illustrated included him on its All-Century Team for college football.

In Their Own Story

The silence in the press box was heavy as the announcer called out the name of the first pick. It wasn't the roar of a stadium or the clash of pads that defined Ernie Davis's arrival, but the weight of history settling on a young man from Syracuse. The Jets held his jersey with reverence, knowing the future they had envisioned would never unfold on the gridiron. Yet, in the quiet moments when fans look up at the retired numbers, number 45 stands alone, a testament to potential unfulfilled and honor bestowed upon a legend who never took the field.

Reader's Guide

Davis was the first overall pick in the 1962 NFL draft on December 4, 1961. Selected by the Washington Redskins, he was then almost immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns. He was also drafted in the first round two days earlier by the Buffalo Bills of the American Football League. Redskins owner George Preston Marshall was an avowed racist who kept the Redskins entirely white. The signing only came when Interior Secretary Stewart Udall issued an ultimatum to Marshall: sign a black player by the start of the 1962 season, or he would revoke the Redskins' 30-year lease on D.C. Stadium. Marshall left the decision to general manager and head coach Bill McPeak, who picked Davis. Davis refused to play for the Redskins and demanded a trade. A deal with Cleveland was engineered by Browns coach Paul Brown. The Redskins traded the rights to Davis to the Cleveland Browns for Bobby Mitchell and first-round draft pick Leroy Jackson. Davis signed a three-year, $200,000 contract with the Browns in late December 1961. It was the most lucrative contract for an NFL rookie up to that time. The Browns' dream of pairing Davis with Jim Brown took a tragic turn when Davis was diagnosed with leukemia. The rift between Coach Brown and Modell worsened when Modell brought in doctors who said Davis was well enough to play and Brown still refused to allow it. Although Davis' leukemia was in remission at the time, Brown felt letting him play would hurt team morale. This contributed to Modell's decision to replace Brown before the 1963 season. Davis was allowed to practice on the field without physical contact and helped Brown draw up game plans but he never played a meaningful down. His only appearance at Cleveland Stadium came at a pre-season game on August 18, in which he ran onto the field.

Did You Know?

• Davis was the first black athlete to win the Heisman Trophy.
• He was nicknamed the 'Elmira Express' by a sports writer.
• Davis wore number 44 at Syracuse, the same number as Jim Brown.
• He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, the first African-American in the national fraternity.
• President John F. Kennedy requested to meet Davis after he won the Heisman Trophy.