Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis plans for 2018 to be his last season as an NFL player, according to a report from Josh Alper at Pro Football Talk.
Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis said this week that he expects to play a reduced role in the team’s defense during the 2018 season and he won’t wait around for that role to grow even smaller in 2019.
NFL Network analyst Ian Rapoport confirmed the news on Twitter.
Story posting on https://t.co/iLSuC0HswN: #Panthers LB Thomas Davis told our @BCersosimo that 2018 will be his final NFL season. ... He'll be in studio this weekend.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 12, 2018
Davis is the heart and soul of the Panthers defense and one of the best examples of the Panthers’ motto “Keep Pounding”, as he is the only NFL player to come back from three consecutive ACL tears to continue a productive career. Davis missed all but nine games from 2009-2011, but managed to return to form and earn All Pro honors in 2013 and 2015. He ranks 7th in Panthers franchise history with 13 interceptions, and 8th in franchise history with 28 sacks.
He’s also a positive influence off the field, and was named the 2014 Walter Payton Man of the Year winner in recognition of his off-field work though his Thomas Davis Defending Dreams Foundation.
Davis has one more year remaining on his contract and would be an unrestricted free agent in 2019 if he chose not to retire. However, going back on this decision is unlikely as he’s said several times over the years that he doesn’t want to play for any team other than the Panthers.
As Panthers fans, we’ve been incredibly lucky to have a football player — and more importantly, a human being — like Thomas Davis to root for over the last 12 years. If there’s any player in the league right now that deserves to win a Super Bowl it’s him, so hopefully the Panthers can take care of that next season and let him go out on top.
How do you feel about this, Panthers fans? Are you prepared for Panthers football without Thomas Davis?