Jeff Davidson

Infobox NFL PlayerCoach


Color=black
fontcolor=#0088d4
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1967|10|3
Birthplace=Akron, Ohio
College=Ohio State
Position=Offensive Coordinator
Offensive lineman
player=yes
years=1990-1993
1994
teams=Denver Broncos
New Orleans Saints
coach=yes
coachingyears=1995

1996

1997

1998-2001

2002-2004


2005-2006

2006


2006


2007-"present"
coachingteams=New Orleans Saints
(Volunteer Assistant)
New Orleans Saints
(Offensive Assistant)
New England Patriots
(Tight Ends Coach)
New England Patriots
(Assistant Offensive Line Coach)
New England Patriots
(Tight Ends Coach)
(Assistant Offensive Line Coach)
Cleveland Browns
(Offensive Line Coach)
Cleveland Browns
(Assistant Head Coach)
(Offensive Line Coach)
Cleveland Browns
(Assistant Head Coach)
(Offensive Coordinator)
Carolina Panthers
(Offensive Coordinator)

Jeff Davidson (born October 3, 1967 in Akron, Ohio) is the current American football Offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League.

Playing career

High school

Davidson attended Westerville North High School in Westerville, Ohio and was a letterman in football.

College

Davidson attended and played football for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1986 to 1989. He became a starter at offensive guard as a junior and earned All-Big Ten honors as a senior.

He was also selected as a co-captain as a senior. His father Jim, an All-American tackle, had been Buckeye co-captain in 1964. The Davidsons became the first father-son captain duo in Ohio State history. They were followed by the Herbstreits (1960/1992) and the Johnsons (1984-5/2007).

NFL

Davidson was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 5th round of the 1990 NFL Draft. He was with the Broncos for four seasons before signing with the New Orleans Saints in 1994, and retiring after suffering a shoulder injury.

Coaching career

New England Patriots

After retiring, Davidson stayed with the New Orleans Saints as a volunteer assistant in 1995. He was made an offensive assistant by the Saints in 1996. In 1997, he was hired by the New England Patriots as their tight ends coach. At the end of the season, the Patriots promoted him to assistant offensive line coach, where he remained from 1998-2001. In 2002, he again became the tight ends coach while retaining his assistant offensive line coaching duties.

Cleveland Browns

When Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel left to become the Browns' head coach for the 2005 season, Davidson followed Crennel to Cleveland as the Browns' offensive line coach. In 2006, Davidson was named the team's assistant head coach/offensive line coach. After six games of the Browns' season, offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon was fired and Davidson promoted in his place.

Carolina Panthers

Davidson was hired on January 24, 2007 as the offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. Having worked as a member of the New England Patriots' staff under Charlie Weis, Davidson forged a close relationship with him. Weis is a good friend of Panthers head coach John Fox, and it is believed that his recommendation was instrumental in Fox's decision to hire Davidson [ [http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/football/nfl/carolina_panthers/16531090.htm Panthers Hire Offensive Coordinator] Charlotte Observer 24 Jan. 2007. Accessed 24 Jan. 2007.] . With his playing and coaching experience at the offensive line and additional coaching with tight ends, most believe this hire meant that Coach Fox wanted to keep his focus on a powerful offense based around a strong running game, as has been his tendency in the past [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2740644 Panthers Hire Davidson as Offensive Coordinator] ESPN. 23 Jan. 2007. Accessed 24 Jan. 2007.] .

Notes and references