Does the Saints Two-Time Pro Bowl Linebacker Deserve a Golden Jacket Someday?
Demario Davis’s NFL journey is one of the most underappreciated success stories of his generation. Drafted in the third round by the New York Jets in 2012, Davis entered the league with all the physical tools needed to thrive. However, his early years were marked by instability, coaching changes, defensive scheme shifts, and being overshadowed by flashier names at the position. Still, Davis consistently produced, logging 100-plus tackle seasons multiple times in his first stint with the Jets. It was never a matter of talent; it was a matter of fit and recognition.
Everything changed when Davis joined the New Orleans Saints in 2018. In New Orleans, he wasn’t just inserted into a defensive scheme that highlighted his strengths; he was handed the keys to lead. He quickly became the heartbeat of the Saints' defense, recording 110 combined tackles and five sacks in his first year and being named a defensive captain almost immediately. His ability to diagnose plays, cover tight ends and running backs, and still pressure quarterbacks made him one of the most complete linebackers in the NFL. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 2019 and Pro Bowl selections in 2022 and 2023, validating what many analysts and teammates had long believed: Demario Davis is elite.
What sets Davis apart from many peers is his unmatched consistency and leadership. Across 13 NFL seasons, he has played in 210 games and started 196 of them, missing only two games in his entire career. That kind of reliability is extraordinary, especially for a position as physically demanding as linebacker. Since joining the Saints, he has logged over 100 tackles in every season and added consistent sack production, including a career-high six and a half sacks in 2022. Even more impressively, he’s done all this while being a vocal leader in the locker room and a pillar in the community. His faith-driven approach and commitment to off-the-field causes, like criminal justice reform and youth mentorship, reflect the kind of character that resonates in Hall of Fame discussions.
Despite being in his mid-30s, Davis has shown no signs of slowing down. In 2024, at the age of 36, he posted 136 total tackles, two sacks, and played over 1,000 defensive snaps, a workload rare even for players a decade younger. According to Pro Football Focus, he continues to grade above 70.0 annually and is ranked as the 21st-best linebacker heading into the 2025 season. He’s also the only active linebacker to have over 1,450 career stops and at least 500 tackles and 20 sacks over the past five seasons. That blend of durability, production, and leadership at his age is almost unheard of, placing him in a category few linebackers occupy.
So, does Demario Davis deserve a gold jacket and Hall of Fame consideration? The answer is increasingly evident. While he may not have the media buzz or flash of some contemporaries, his resume boasts the numbers, impact, and intangibles that define Hall of Famers. With each passing season, he continues to build a legacy rooted in dominance, leadership, and consistency. When the time comes, Canton should take a long, hard look at number 56 because Demario Davis has earned the right to be remembered among the greats.
