Cotton Davidson obit

Former Baylor QB and coach Cotton Davidson dies

 

 He was not on the list.

Former Baylor quarterback and assistant coach Cotton Davidson has died, according to Baylor athletics.

Davidson, 91, was a Gatesville native who lettered for the Bears from 1951-53 as he starred at quarterback. He became a first-round draft pick by the Baltimore Colts in 1954

Davidson played for the NFL's Colts before going on to play for the AFL's Dallas Texans and Oakland Raiders before retiring in 1968. He made AFL All-Star teams in 1961 and 1963. Davidson later went on to coach for the Bears under Grant Teaff.

Davidson's son, Tommy, played receiver for the Bears in the 1970s. Tommy Davidson died in 2019 in a car accident.

Davidson was selected in the first round of the 1954 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts. In addition to playing quarterback, he also was a placekicker and punter. An original Dallas Texan, Davidson was the first starting quarterback for the franchise.

After the 1954 NFL season, Davidson received word that he had been drafted by the U.S. Army. He served in the Army for two years and did not take part in the 1955 NFL season or the 1956 NFL season. By the time Davidson returned to the Colts for the 1957 NFL Season, John Unitas was the team's starting quarterback.

While in the military, Davidson played quarterback for the Fort Bliss Falcons from 1955 to 1957. A game between the Fort Bliss Falcons and the Cannonneers of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, was played for a trophy called "The Little Brown Dud." The Cannoneers won the game and took home the Little Brown Dud. Cotton was awarded All-Army Quarterback in 1955.

On July 2, 1962, the Texans signed Len Dawson, thus ending Davidson's career as the Dallas quarterback. After the 1962 season opener, he was traded to the Oakland Raiders for the first overall selection in the 1963 American Football League Draft, which was used by the Chiefs to select future Hall of Famer Buck Buchanan. Just two weeks later, Davidson started at quarterback in his first game with the Raiders. Playing against his former team, he threw for 248 yards and rushed for a touchdown in a 26–16 loss to the Texans.

The high moments of his career were being selected to the American Football League All-Star Game twice: in 1961 and in 1963. He was honored as the MVP of the 1961 AFL All-Star Game while with the Texans.

Davidson finished with an all-time record of 19–33–1 as a starter.

Personal information

Born:     November 30, 1931

Gatesville, Texas

Died:     December 2022 (aged 91)

Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)

Weight: 182 lb (83 kg)

Career information

College: Baylor

NFL Draft:            1954 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5

Career history

 

    Baltimore Colts (1954, 1957)

    Dallas Texans (1960–1962)

    Oakland Raiders (1962–1968)

 

Career highlights and awards

 

    2× AFL All-Star (1961, 1963)

    1961 AFL All-Star Game MVP

 

Career professional statistics

TD–Int: 73–108

Passing yards:    11,760

Passer rating:     54.9

Punts:   280

Punting yards:   10,679