Panthers LB Davis to retire after 2018
Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis will not retire this offseason, but the 2018 season “will definitely be my last year,” the 34-year-old told NFL Media.
Davis cited the desire to spend more time with his kids after fulfilling his contract with the Panthers, which runs through 2018 after an extra year was tacked on to the deal in August. Davis said he had hoped for a two-year extension at the time, but the team preferred just one year.
“For me, the decision was made when I signed the contract extension.” Davis said on NFL Network. “They only wanted to sign me to a one-year extension. As a player, you want to play, you want to honor your contract, and for me, it was a no-brainer. Like, ‘This is how long they want me here for, this is how much time I have to dedicate to this organization to try to win the Super Bowl.'”
A first-round pick out of Georgia in 2005, Davis has spent his whole career in Carolina. He overcame a trio of torn ACLs in his right knee to play 93 games over the last six seasons, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2015 and 2016. Davis also helped the Panthers to a berth in Super Bowl 50, playing in the game less than two weeks after having surgery on a broken forearm suffered in the NFC Championship Game.
He finished 2017 with 76 tackles (five for loss), 2.5 sacks and seven QB hits. In 13 seasons, Davis has 1,017 career tackles, 28.0 sacks, 13 interceptions and 18 forced fumbles.
Davis said earlier this week he expects to have a reduced role in 2018, with 2015 first-round pick Shaq Thompson taking more of his snaps.
“That’s the nature of the NFL,” he said.
–Field Level Media
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