CMG Worldwide Welcomes You to its Willie Davis website!
Biography
The first defensive lineman to combine size with devastating speed, Willie Davis made his mark as a stalwart on the dominant Packers’ teams of the 1960s.
Willie, who grew up in rural Louisiana and graduated from Grambling University, had a hard time getting his professional career started. A two-year stint in the Army and the Cleveland Browns’ indecision on where to best utilize Willie’s vast talents were the main culprits. A trade in 1960 to the Green Bay Packers, then considered to be the Siberia of pro sports, did little to inspire Davis. In fact, he briefly considered quitting.
Vince Lombardi, however, had different plans. He recognized immediately that Davis’ cat-like speed and agility would be best utilized as a defensive lineman. Thus began one of the greatest careers ever at that position.
Five straight Pro Bowl years, 21 fumble recoveries, 162 straight games played, and 5 NFL championships are testaments to Davis’ dominance. Willie, however, was ever-cognizant of the fleeting nature of a professional football career. That is why he earned his Masters in business from the University of Chicago and entered a major company’s management training program, all before his playing days were over.
In the early 1970s, Davis worked as a color commentator on NFL telecasts for NBC. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981. In 1986, Davis was named the Walter Camp Man of the Year. In 1987, he was given the Career Achievement Award from the NFL Alumni, and in 1988 he was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988. In 1999, he was ranked number 69 on The Sporting News’ list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
Willie felt it was important for kids to “remember me as a player who moved on to success off the field.” As a role model, Willie Davis set an example for all children to emulate. As a player, he did the same for defensive lineman.
Quotes
About Willie Davis:
- “He was always towering over you, coming, coming all the time.”
— Y.A. Tittle
- “His reactions are just incredible. We feel with his quickness, he can be a great pass rusher.”
— Vince Lombardi (upon acquiring Davis)
- “When a play had to be made, he just said, ‘I’m going to make it,’ and he did.”
— Marion Campbell
By Willie Davis:
- “If you step on people in this life, you’re going to come back as a cockroach.”
- “The road to success runs uphill.”
- “When we heard the verdict, it became a very emotional day for my client. When I left him, he was getting in the car with his brother and was still crying out of joy.”
- “It’s awfully nice to look out there and see everybody here tonight. I’m very humbled.”
Licensing
As a licensing agent for Willie Davis, CMG Worldwide is dedicated to maintaining and developing a positive brand image for our client. CMG is a leader and pioneer in its field, with over 37 years of experience arranging licensing agreements for hundreds of personalities and brands in various industries, including sports, entertainment, music, and more. We actively seek out commercial opportunities that are consistent with our brand positioning goals, and we are committed to pursuing strategies that meet the goals of our clients, as well as our licensing partners.
Please contact us today if you are interested in licensing opportunities with Willie Davis. For a full list of CMG Clients, please visit our website here.