You might not know who Terrel Davis is. That would be hard for a Coloradoan who has resided here for more than 25 years to understand. He was a running back for the Denver Broncos from 1995 to 2001. He is still the Broncos all-time leading rusher and still holds the record for most postseason single-season touchdowns, which he achieved in 1997. He was indicted to the Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
Davis isn’t just any Bronco to me. He has been a family hero for 30 years. He helped John Elway guide the Broncos to their first Super Bowl win in years, receiving the MVP in 1998. They won the Super Bowl again in 1999.
Despite suffering a migraine headache that caused him to miss most of the second quarter, Davis was named Super Bowl MVP. He ran for 157 yards, caught two passes
for 8 yards, and scored a Super Bowl record three rushing touchdowns. As of 2024, Davis remains the most recent running back to be named Super Bowl MVP.
Davis grew up in San Diego, and attended Lincoln High School. During his many years with the Broncos, he commuted back and forth to see family frequently. My husband and I also made that trip often for his business. We happened to sit next to or near him more than once or twice over the years. He was so unassuming, so polite, and as courteous as could be — a football hero. Almost such that people didn’t realize who he was at first. He spoke to us each time, though we tried hard not to be fan-flies. We filed him away as one of the few truly good guys among celebrities. The airline, always United, seemed to know who he was, treat him well and leave him alone.
It’s been a few years, but we still make that trip occasionally and so does he.
Imagine my horror to find out yesterday that this amazing Black man, now a married father of three, while traveling on a similar flight to California, was handcuffed and escorted off the plane by 6 FBI and law enforcement officers — last weekend? In front of his family? For what — for tapping a flight attendant on the arm! WHAT???
There is nothing I can say, just let you hear this story from Terrel and his wife, via Gayl King:
Actually, there is something I can say.
It doesn’t matter what a Black child does right, does it?
They still grow up to be Black men.
And in America, that is still very, very dangerous. For them.
Davis said he strives to be a positive role model for his kids and teach them to do the right thing – which makes the sight of him getting taken away in handcuffs even more heartbreaking.
“We did the right thing. We didn’t do anything. Yet I found myself with handcuffs, being paraded off a plane and being treated like a convict,” Davis said.
www.cnn.com/...
“We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons
Is as important as the killing of white men, white mothers’ sons
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes”
from Ella’s Song by Sweet Honey In The Rock