Ernie Davis
December 14, 1939 – May 18, 1963
The pioneer who secured the Heisman Trophy as the first African-American recipient.
Ernest R. Davis, born on December 14, 1939, and tragically passing away on May 18, 1963, was a standout American college football player for the Syracuse Orangemen. He achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Heisman Trophy in 1961, becoming the award’s first-ever African-American recipient. Following his stellar college career, Davis was initially selected by the Washington Redskins as the first overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft, but he was swiftly traded to the Cleveland Browns. Unfortunately, in that same year, he received a devastating diagnosis of leukemia, which ultimately led to his untimely death at the tender age of 23. Regrettably, he never had the opportunity to play in a professional game.
Despite his tragically brief life, Davis left an indelible mark on the world of football with his exceptional contributions. In recognition of his remarkable talents and achievements, he was posthumously inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979. His inspirational life story and exceptional accomplishments were immortalized in the 2008 film “The Express: The Ernie Davis Story.”
Early Life
Ernie Davis was born in New Salem, Pennsylvania. Tragically, his father passed away shortly after his birth, leaving his mother, Avis Marie Davis Fleming, to raise him alone. At just 14 months old, he was lovingly cared for by his maternal grandparents, Willie and Elizabeth Davis. When Ernie turned 12, he moved in with his mother and stepfather in Elmira, New York. It was there that he began to shine in various sports, including baseball, basketball, and football during his grade school years. He attended Elmira Free Academy, where his exceptional talent earned him two All-American honors. As he approached the end of his senior year, numerous colleges vied for his attention, but he ultimately chose to attend Syracuse University, influenced by the persuasive words of Syracuse alumnus Jim Brown.
College Career
Ernie Davis played football under the guidance of Coach Ben Schwartzwalder at Syracuse University from 1959 to 1961. During these three remarkable seasons, he achieved national recognition, earning first-team All-American honors twice. In his sophomore year, Davis led the 1959 Syracuse team to a national championship, culminating in an undefeated 11–0 season and a triumphant 23–14 victory over the Texas Longhorns in the 1960 Cotton Bowl Classic, where he was named Most Valuable Player. It was during this season that Al Mallette, a sports writer at Elmira Star-Gazette, coined the nickname “the Elmira Express” for Davis. In his junior year, 1960, Davis set a record by averaging 7.8 yards per carry and ranked as the third-leading rusher in the nation with 877 yards, achieving 100 yards in rushing during six out of nine games. The 1960 Syracuse Orangemen finished with a 7–2 record but did not participate in a post-season bowl game. In Ernie’s senior year, the 1961 Orangemen closed the season with an 8–3 record, celebrating a 15–14 victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the Liberty Bowl, played at Philadelphia’s Franklin Field. During this time, college football had limited substitution rules, requiring players to perform both offensive and defensive roles.
Ernie Davis faced discrimination during his visit to Dallas, Texas for the Cotton Bowl. At the banquet following the 1960 game, he was initially informed that he could only accept his award and then had to leave the segregated venue. However, Davis and his black teammates were eventually allowed to finish their meals at the banquet. When dessert was served, a gentleman quietly approached them and informed them that they would need to depart when the doors opened to the public for a dance. Davis and two other teammates reluctantly left, but the remaining players decided to stay, fearing that their departure would cause more significant problems.
Another account of the banquet comes from John Brown, Davis’ teammate at Syracuse and later on the Cleveland Browns, as well as his close friend and roommate. According to John Brown, all the players from the game attended the banquet. Brown recalls that the teams sat on opposite sides of the room. After everyone had eaten and the trophies were distributed, the three black Syracuse players, including Brown, Davis, and Art Baker, were asked to leave the banquet and were taken to another party in Dallas by local NAACP representatives. Gerhard Schwedes, another Syracuse player, suggested that the entire Syracuse team leave the banquet in solidarity with their black teammates, but this suggestion was overruled by Syracuse officials. When asked about whether the film “The Express” accurately portrayed his friend, John Brown responded, ” … in short, no.”
Ernie Davis achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first black athlete to receive the Heisman Trophy, the highest individual honor in collegiate football. He also won the Walter Camp Memorial Trophy after his outstanding senior-year season at Syracuse University. President John F. Kennedy, an admirer of Davis’ career, expressed his desire to meet him during Davis’ visit to New York to receive the trophy. In 1963, when Elmira chose February 3 to celebrate Davis’ accomplishments, President Kennedy sent a heartfelt telegram acknowledging Davis’ exceptional qualities on and off the field.
During his tenure at Syracuse University, Davis wore the same number, 44, as legendary Orangeman Jim Brown, establishing a tradition at the school. This tradition was officially honored on November 12, 2005, when Syracuse University retired the number 44 jersey in an on-field ceremony. Apart from his football prowess, Ernie Davis also played basketball at Syracuse for a single season in 1960–1961. His impact was so significant that the United States Postal Service granted Syracuse University permission to change its ZIP code to 13244 in honor of all the athletes who had worn the number 44.
While studying at Syracuse, Ernie Davis joined the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, a nationally recognized Jewish fraternity. He was the first African-American to become a part of this organization, both at the Syracuse chapter and nationally. Additionally, Davis participated in the university’s Army ROTC program and was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon his graduation. In 1979, Ernie Davis was posthumously inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Ernie Davis was also a member of The Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C., a national organization that honored intercollegiate All-American football players.
Professional Football Career
Ernie Davis became the first overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft on December 4, 1961. Initially chosen by the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) in December 1961, he was swiftly traded to the Cleveland Browns.
The Buffalo Bills of the American Football League (AFL) had also drafted Davis two days earlier.
However, the path to Davis joining the NFL was fraught with challenges. Redskins’ founder and owner, George Preston Marshall, was openly racist and maintained an all-white roster for the team, long after other NFL teams had integrated. He openly acknowledged that his reluctance to sign a black player was a strategic move to cater to his predominantly Southern fan base, as the Redskins were the southernmost team in the league for many years. The situation only changed when Interior Secretary Stewart Udall issued an ultimatum to Marshall: either sign a black player before the start of the 1962 season or risk losing the Redskins’ 30-year lease on D.C. Stadium (now Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium). Since the stadium was city-owned, and the Washington city government was legally considered a branch of the federal government, Udall had the authority to take such action. However, Marshall was still unable to draft a black player, so he left the decision to general manager and head coach Bill McPeak, who ultimately selected Davis. Nevertheless, Davis refused to play for the Redskins and insisted on a trade.
Cleveland Browns’ coach Paul Brown, without informing owner Art Modell, orchestrated the trade for Davis. This approach was a customary practice for the Browns since their inception in 1946; Paul Brown served as both the general manager and head coach and had full autonomy over football-related decisions. In exchange for the rights to Davis, the Redskins traded Bobby Mitchell and first-round draft pick Leroy Jackson to the Browns. Davis chose to join the Cleveland Browns, where he would be reunited with his classmate John Brown as his roommate, and he would have the honor of playing alongside Jim Brown, a player he deeply admired.
Ernie Davis signed a lucrative three-year