James David
Encyclopedia
James Theodoric David (December 2, 1927 — July 29, 2007) was an American football
defensive back
for the Detroit Lions
(1952–1959) in the National Football League
. He attended Colorado A&M
.
. During his college career, David lettered in both football and baseball at Colorado A&M, and on the gridiron, he played offensive and defensive halfback, linebacker and end. Prior to attending college, he served in the Army as a staff sergeant in the infantry, which included a tour-of-duty in Europe.
and Yale Lary
, and they were also joined by Bob Smith and Karl Karilivacz. He ended his career with 36 interceptions, which still ranks fifth in Lions' history, and he recorded a season-high of seven interceptions three times (1952, 1954 and 1956).
Known around the league as "The Hatchet", David was a major contributor on an instrumental Lions’ defense that helped Detroit's championship teams in 1952, 1953 and 1957. Standing only 5-11 and weighing a little over 170 pounds, he earned the nickname "Hatchet" in 1953 when, in successive games, he delivered devastating tackles that knocked future Hall of Famers Y.A. Tittle (San Francisco 49ers
) and Tom Fears
(Los Angeles Rams), out of both games.
After retiring from the Lions, David immediately entered the pro coaching ranks - joining the Los Angeles Rams’ coaching staff as defensive backs coach from 1960-62. He was the Rams’ chief talent scout in 1963. He then joined Jack Christiansen’s San Francisco 49ers coaching staff, as secondary coach, from 1964-66. In 1967, another former Lions’ teammate and Hall of Famer, Joe Schmidt
, hired David to help run the Lions’ defense. He served in that capacity for six seasons from 1967-72. Among the star players he coached was Hall of Famer Lem Barney
, whom David presented during his Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement in 1992.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
(1952–1959) in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He attended Colorado A&M
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
.
College career
David played for Colorado A&M. In his senior year, he was second in the nation in receptionsReception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
. During his college career, David lettered in both football and baseball at Colorado A&M, and on the gridiron, he played offensive and defensive halfback, linebacker and end. Prior to attending college, he served in the Army as a staff sergeant in the infantry, which included a tour-of-duty in Europe.
Professional career
David was a member of three Detroit Lions World Championship teams in the 1950s, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Detroit history. The six-time Pro Bowler (1955–60) roamed in the Lions secondary, often referred to as "Chris’ Crew", for eight seasons (1952–59) after being drafted out of Colorado A&M. David’s teammates in that secondary included Hall of Famers Jack ChristiansenJack Christiansen
-External links:*Pro Football Hall of Fame: *...
and Yale Lary
Yale Lary
Robert Yale Lary is a former American football player.After graduating from North Side High School in 1949, he attended Texas A&M University, where he was a standout in football and baseball...
, and they were also joined by Bob Smith and Karl Karilivacz. He ended his career with 36 interceptions, which still ranks fifth in Lions' history, and he recorded a season-high of seven interceptions three times (1952, 1954 and 1956).
Known around the league as "The Hatchet", David was a major contributor on an instrumental Lions’ defense that helped Detroit's championship teams in 1952, 1953 and 1957. Standing only 5-11 and weighing a little over 170 pounds, he earned the nickname "Hatchet" in 1953 when, in successive games, he delivered devastating tackles that knocked future Hall of Famers Y.A. Tittle (San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
) and Tom Fears
Tom Fears
Thomas Jesse Fears was a Mexican-American football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League, playing nine seasons from 1948 to 1956.-Early life:...
(Los Angeles Rams), out of both games.
After retiring from the Lions, David immediately entered the pro coaching ranks - joining the Los Angeles Rams’ coaching staff as defensive backs coach from 1960-62. He was the Rams’ chief talent scout in 1963. He then joined Jack Christiansen’s San Francisco 49ers coaching staff, as secondary coach, from 1964-66. In 1967, another former Lions’ teammate and Hall of Famer, Joe Schmidt
Joe Schmidt
Joseph Paul Schmidt is a former American football player and coach at both the collegiate and professional levels. His 13-year career with the National Football League's Detroit Lions gained him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973.-Collegiate career:Schmidt grew up in Pittsburgh,...
, hired David to help run the Lions’ defense. He served in that capacity for six seasons from 1967-72. Among the star players he coached was Hall of Famer Lem Barney
Lem Barney
Lemuel Joseph "Lem" Barney is a former American Football cornerback who played for the Detroit Lions. He was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.-College years:...
, whom David presented during his Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement in 1992.