The Unsuccessful Champion: Finding True Victory in the Midst of Adversity

By Demario Davis, Becky York and Benjamin Watson

Having grown up in an impoverished environment, Demario Davis found himself leading a life filled with drugs, alcohol, violence, and eventually, jail. With the odds against him at every turn, he continued to pursue his dream of making a name for himself in the NFL. But when given a divine warning that he was dangerously close to hitting his final strike, he began searching for something greater. Journey with him as he shares his story of finding what it means to become a true champion in the midst of what the world may deem defeat.

“If you’ve ever had the chance to meet Demario, you will truly understand the common phrase ‘force of nature.’ This title is normally reserved for athletes who are so powerful and agile that it’s overwhelming; you can’t stop it. Demario is like that on the field, but his joy, character, and passion for life might be his most powerful attributes. This book reminds us all that there’s something greater we live for. This might not always show up on a scoreboard or in a bank account, but our wins and losses do not have to define us. God’s call on our lives is the most important. Demario’s life is evidence of this exact thing. This book will be a blessing to anybody who is trying to make a difference in this world. I highly recommend it.”
Carl Lentz,
lead pastor of Hillsong East Coast

“Demario’s story is one that will inspire, encourage, and challenge anyone who reads it. This book is a powerful story from an incredible man, whose faith in God will impact generations to come.”
Drew Brees,
New Orleans Saints quarterback

“It speaks volumes when people who have money, power, and influence take time out of their busy lives to focus on the things that matter most. I’m looking forward to seeing what Demario creates off the field through his new book and the insights he’s found through his journey.”
Andy Mineo,
rapper

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973676027

Demario Davis

NFL linebacker and philanthropist Demario Davis currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife, Tamela and their four children. Born in Mississippi and raised by his single mom and grandmother, Demario has beaten the odds placed against him and made a name for himself as one of the top linebackers in the league. But greater than any title he could earn on the football field is the one he holds as a child of God. Demario devotes his life to making, not his name, but the name of Jesus Christ known. With a passion to inspire the next generation of leaders, Demario, along with his wife, Tamela, have founded a non-profit called Devoted Dreamers, to equip young people with the tools and resources to reach their full potential spiritually, mentally, and physically. In addition to his role as a speaker and mentor to the youth, Demario often speaks to churches, schools, and other groups to share his story and the message of the Gospel.

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Copyright © 2019 Demario Davis with Becky York.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Interior Image Credit: April Belle

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7603-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7604-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-7602-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019915267

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/04/2019

CONTENTS

Foreword

Note to the Reader

Introduction

Chapter 1     A Foundation Laid

Chapter 2     Don’t Break Stride

Chapter 3     From Innocent to Aware

Chapter 4     The Danger of Seeking Approval

Chapter 5     Strike Two

Chapter 6     Where Your Heart Leads

Chapter 7     The Voice of Conviction

Chapter 8     Eyes Opened

Chapter 9     Giving God Lordship

Chapter 10   Turning the Tide

Chapter 11   The Moment I Knew

Chapter 12   Becoming a Jet

Chapter 13   Free Agency

Chapter 14   The Breaking Point

Chapter 15   From Demotion to Promotion

Chapter 16   From the Valley to the Mountaintop

Chapter 17   To Make Him Known

About the Author

To my children, may they always remember that the key to life is keeping Christ at the center.

FOREWORD

A HERO IS SOMEONE WHO INSPIRES YOU TO BE something or someone beyond what you think you can be by your own ability, leading you to rely on a power higher than yourself. Heroes usually admit that what they are, they are not by their own strength. They attribute their greatness to something greater than themselves. Demario defines heroism. When you look at the life he is living, when you watch the things he says and does today, you’ll see that while he’s not perfect, God’s hand is all over his life.

When I returned to the New Orleans Saints roster for the 2018 season, they had just signed Demario. While I had met him in the past, we had never been on the same team. Having seen how he handles himself in the NFL, I gained a genuine respect and appreciation for the man, and as a fellow follower of Christ, we naturally had a camaraderie on the team. But I’ll never forget the moment he boldly approached me on opening day of the season.

It was pregame at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, and we were warming up as a team on the stretch line, the offense on one side and the defense on the other. Demario, being the hype man that he is, was dancing to the music that was blaring in the stadium and shaking his teammates’ hands to celebrate the kickoff of the season. I looked over to find him jogging over to the offense; he was headed my way. Joining me on the ground, he boldly said, Let’s pray. As we both took a knee in that moment, lifting up the game, our team, and the season in prayer, I knew this teammate of mine was different—he was set apart.

For me, that moment in the stadium captures who Demario is. Football is important to him; he’s the life of the locker room, always excited about the game, and he has an energy about him that’s contagious. Win or lose, Demario’s joy and eternal perspective on life remain steady. But even greater than his passion for the game is his zeal for his relationship with the Lord. He’ll let you know about it every chance he gets. He’s always ready with a word of encouragement to share with another.

On the field, Demario makes every other player, whether teammate or opponent, want to play harder. As I sat on the bench with the offense, watching the defense take the field, I would see him aggressively tackling his opponents and celebrating with his teammates with an infectious energy. He’s one of the few people I know who can do that—change the environment he’s in by simply being himself. Demario did that for me; he changed the environment of the game for me, giving me a renewed excitement to take the field. After playing fifteen seasons in the NFL, I was reminded just how blessed we are to play in this league. He showed me that.

A spiritual leader in the league, he’s one guy you want to have in your locker room. He speaks the truth of the Gospel boldly, proudly, and loudly, no matter where he is or whom he’s with. We need more Demarios in this world—people who are willing to carry the banner of Christ unashamedly, in humility, never deviating from the truth. He’s someone who wants to eradicate wrong and share the love of Christ in tangible ways on his team and within his community. People are naturally drawn to him because they see something in him that they want to see in themselves. And they’ll find that something is the love and joy of Jesus Christ.

Everyone has a series of experiences that make up his or her life story. When we look back at our lives, many of us are able to recognize we were only one or two mistakes away from never getting to where we are today. Had it not been for a certain person or specific circumstance outside of our control, we would not have made it. But because of something, or someone, greater, we have been blessed and shown favor. Demario’s story is one of redemption, displaying God’s favor and protection all for the purpose of bringing glory to God. Since Demario has experienced the power of God’s redemption, forgiveness, and mercy, he enthusiastically seeks to do that for others. That’s what the Gospel is. We are all condemned, poor, and broken. But because of God’s redemptive grace, we can experience the undeserved freedom and joy He so freely offers. And as a result, we can offer that same grace to others.

Demario’s story is one that needs to be told because we can all see part of our own story in his. With priorities that exemplify what any man of God should be—his God, his family, and then others—Demario has a life that inspires, encourages, and challenges. My prayer is that as you read his story, you are changed from the inside out, as I know I have been.

—Benjamin Watson, NFL tight end

NOTE TO THE READER

MY LIFE HAS BEEN ONE FILLED WITH MOMENTS OF many great feats as well as some not-so-great feats. I’ve competed countless times, and many times, I’ve fallen just short of success—from losing the championship game in my Pop Warner football league, to coming just shy of winning the state championship with my high school basketball and track and field teams. In college, we once won conference but lost the bowl game. While I was with the New York Jets, we went 10–6 and pulled up just shy of qualifying for the playoffs. Last year, with the New Orleans Saints, we were just one overtime play away from going to the Super Bowl. Even now, I’ve been named one of the top linebackers in the NFL, but I’m not the top. With almost everything I’ve aspired to be or do, I’ve either struck out and missed it completely or fallen just short of the mark. I’ve seen all of the disappointments one can imagine, all of which threaten to lessen my morale, and yet I’ve continued to get up and try again. I have not, and will not, allow it to defeat me.

While in this life I may experience disappointments and be left with unmet goals, I know the ultimate victory has been won by Jesus Christ, who has redeemed me as a champion over this life. It doesn’t matter if I gain Super Bowl on top of Super Bowl on top of Super Bowl rings. I can be undefeated in the world but lose in life if I don’t have Christ on my team. Then all I would be is a successful failure. I’d rather be an unsuccessful champion. The greatest goal we can have is to gain an eternal, heavenly crown.

Though I may experience unsuccessful moments in this life, I’m successful where it counts. So here I stand, crowned as a victorious child of the King.

INTRODUCTION

But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

—Matthew 6:33 NIV

FLASHBULBS POP, SMOKE FILLS THE AIR, THE MUSIC blares, and the crowd’s roar rises to an ear-splitting level as I jog onto the turf. Never did I think I would make it here. I was told I wouldn’t. I was undeserving, underprivileged, too big, too small, too poor, too talkative, too far gone. But God.

As I jog onto the football field each week and join my teammates to take on whomever we’re facing that day, I stop to thank God. He’s the One who brought me here. He’s the reason I’ve been able to play the last seven years in the NFL. Not only that, He’s given me a beautiful wife, four amazing kids, a brotherhood of men to live life with, and most of all, an eternal mission that has set the course for my life. None of which I deserve.

I came from nothing. Not that I’m ashamed of this. In fact, I’m proud of it. I love my story because it’s just that—mine. And as messy as it may be, I know God has redeemed every event in my life to piece together the puzzle that makes up Demario Davis.

In the game of football, the goal is to score a six-point touchdown. When your team is down a few of these, it can seem impossible to come back. But there’s always a way. Maybe it’ll take a few onside kicks, Hail Marys, or simply a miracle no one sees coming. That’s kind of how my story goes. I had some points against me, more than six … but I was able to make a comeback. And I’m thankful to God that today I’m able to say I’m running my race hard. I won’t ever give up because no matter how dire things may look, there’s always a way to overcome all odds and find victory. This story is about something much greater than me.

I share my story with you with expectant hope that you’ll not only find it to be inspiring but also motivating. Everyone’s got a past, a future, and a story within them to be wrapped up between bookends. Here’s mine.

CHAPTER 1

A FOUNDATION LAID

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

—Proverbs 22:6 NIV

MY STORY STARTS AT MY GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE. AT least, that’s the earliest I can remember. My mom, having given birth to me when she was sixteen years old, spent my childhood years in school while I spent them with Hazel Magee, the sweetest Southern grandma a boy could ask for.

Grandma was an angel. She was just perfect. At five-foot-nine, with soft brown skin, jet-black hair worn in Jheri curls that hung to her shoulders, square bifocals that took up half her face, and one gold front tooth that seemed to make her perpetual smile all the more infectious, Grandma radiated beauty. She was always smiling, unless she had to give us a whooping for whatever much-deserved punishment we were in for. We received a fair amount of those. My cousins and I were always roughhousing around in the house despite her constant reminders to go outside for such shenanigans. Don’t get me wrong—Grandma was the sweetest woman to walk this earth, always loving and easy to talk to, but she definitely did not spare the rod. For as long as I can remember, I have always known right from wrong. I have her to thank for that.

For Grandma each day began and ended with the Word of God. I remember venturing into her room at the start of the day to find her engrossed in her Bible. It was the first thing she did. Seeing me, she would pick me up and place me beside her in her queen-size bed, making me read along with her. And at night it was the last thing she did before closing her eyes. I would sneak out of my bed to join her once again, to read the words she held on to so strongly.

A very spiritual woman, Grandma knew the Word, and she insisted we did too. Dressing us in suits, she would take my cousins and me to church with her every week, sometimes five nights a week. In our small Southern town of Collins, Mississippi, it seemed there was always a revival being held somewhere nearby, none of which we would miss. If church wasn’t being held at her local congregation, Grandma would find one that was gathering, and that’s where we would be. Giving us a dollar bill to place in our wallets, she made sure we had something to tithe each week.

Grandma’s house, my childhood home, was a three-bedroom country house. While I can’t remember exactly what it looked like—it burned to the ground when I was in the fourth grade—I remember how it made me feel. The countless memories we created there stand firm in my mind and heart today. The warmth and welcoming atmosphere were not just apparent to me but to everyone who stepped foot inside. My grandma; my older cousin, Dominique; my younger cousin, Breanna; and I lived in the house. It was here that my cousins and I would sit at the kitchen table or pull up one of the barstools to chow down on whatever delicious concoction Grandma had whipped up for us. She was a great cook—it was as if she cooked with love as a staple ingredient in each recipe.

Weekend breakfasts were always an especially big event. Sausages, biscuits and gravy, eggs, grits, oatmeal, bacon—the smells that came from the house beckoned not only the rest of our family who lived in the state, but also anyone within walking distance. Grandma always made enough to invite the neighbors or whoever happened to be out on the street that day. She left no man, woman, or child alone or hungry in the town of Collins. I’m pretty sure people would know to venture close to the doorstep just as the biscuits were coming out of the oven.

Almost every