Young and needing a job, Davis's mother sent him to live with his maternal grandparents in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, when he was fourteen months old. However, he would never play a professional game, as he was diagnosed with leukemia in 1962. At 2 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, 1963, he coughed once and died.Thousands turned out to mourn his passing.

He was also heavily recruited by Syracuse University, another football powerhouse, who sent Jim Brown, their All-American running back and one of the team's first African Americans players, to convince Davis. He is the first black player to win a Heisman Trophy. He remained hopeful that he could beat the disease and refused any pity offered by others.While the disease was in remission, Davis reported that he felt fine. At the en…

Career: 282 HR, .269 BA, 934 RBI, OF, 2xAllStar, 3xGG, Reds/Dodgers/... 1984-2001, b:R/t:R, born in CA 1962, Eric the Red

Career numbers for Ernie Davis at Syracuse: school record 6.6 yards per carry, 38 receptions for 392 yards, 35 touchdowns and 3,414 total all-purpose yards.

He followed the legendary Jim Brown to Syracuse University, where he led the Orangemen to a national championship in 1959, and in 1961 he became the first African American to be awarded the Heisman Trophy, given to the college game's best player. Nothing Ernie Davis did on or off the field at Syracuse University ever detracted from the nickname he earned at Elmira Free Academy.

Davis blamed it on the scorching heat out on the field, but after the game he continued to complain of fatigue and mentioned to a friend that his gums were bleeding. Davis individually outscored Syracuse's opponents 80-73. In late July Davis flew out to Chicago to begin practice for the College All-Stars match-up with the Chicago Bears, and others began to notice his lackluster behavior on the field. Over his college career, Davis broke numerous records previously set by At 14 months, he was cared for by his maternal grandparents, Willie and Elizabeth Davis, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Source: Philadelphia Eagles WR Jalen Reagor out 3-4 weeks with tear in shoulderEagles rookie WR Jalen Reagor, a bright spot in training camp, has a small tear in his shoulder and will be out three to four weeks, a source told ESPNNFL training camp 2020: Vikings get Ngakoue, Eagles' Peters wants a raise, teams rev up for kickoffA big trade as training camp 2020 winds down, but teams are revving up for kickoff.

Ernie Davis. Widely recruited to play running back in collegiate football, he chose The results were clear: Davis had less than a year to live.After undergoing a round of chemotherapy and spending almost two months in and out of hospitals, Davis's leukemia went into remission, and on October 4, 1962, Davis's doctor, with Modell present, finally explained the extent of his illness to him.

He led his team to 52 straight wins during his junior and senior years, averaged 18.4 points per game, and set a conference record of 1,065 points.

Also, even in his youth, others noticed the special quality of Davis's character that radiated sincerity, enthusiasm, and friendliness. Although at the time Modell wondered why Davis had not simply called, later he understood that Davis was coming to say goodbye.

He will provide linebacker depth for Denver.Baker Mayfield read a statement on behalf of the Browns on Sunday that supports social justice reform.Jets void Kalen Ballage deal, lose La'Mical Perine to injuryThe New York Jets suffered two blows Sunday at running back, voiding a trade for Kalen Ballage because of a failed physical and losing promising rookie La'Mical Perine to a potentially serious ankle injury.Seahawks put DE Branden Jackson on IR after knockoutThe Seahawks put defensive end Branden Jackson, who was knocked out in a scrimmage, on injured reserve.Copyright: © 2020 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979. His father was killed in an accident shortly after his birth, and his mother, Avis Marie Davis Fleming, could not raise him alone.

He never played in a single NFL game and died on May 18, 1963, at the age of 23.

He also had a stellar performance in Syracuse's 15-14 win over the University of Miami (Florida) in the Liberty Bowl, with 140 total yards and a touchdown, and was named the game's most valuable player.

Ernie Davis, American collegiate gridiron football player who was the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. Skip to main content. On the precipice of a promising career with the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL), Davis was struck with leukemia. Born in New Salem, Penn., Davis moved to Elmira, New York, when he was 12 and soon revealed himself to be quite an athlete. He attended Elmira Free Academy, where he earned two All-Americanhonors.

The Browns retired Davis's number 45, even though he had never played an NFL game.