Francis Marion "Cotton" Davidson (November 30, 1931 – December 2022) was an American football quarterback and punter.

Contents

1 College career

2 Professional career

3 Personal life and death

4 See also

5 References

College career

Davidson attended Baylor University, and played professionally for the National Football League's Baltimore Colts (1954, 1957), and the American Football League's Dallas Texans (1960–1962) and Oakland Raiders (1962–1968).

Professional career

Davidson (#19) as quarterback for Baylor against Houston in 1952.

Davidson was selected in the first round of the 1954 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts. In addition to playing quarterback, he also was a placekicker and punter. An original Dallas Texan, Davidson was the first starting quarterback for the franchise.

After the 1954 NFL season, Davidson received word that he had been drafted by the U.S. Army. He served in the Army for two years and did not take part in the 1955 NFL season or the 1956 NFL season. By the time Davidson returned to the Colts for the 1957 NFL Season, John Unitas was the team's starting quarterback.

While in the military, Davidson played quarterback for the Fort Bliss Falcons from 1955 to 1957. A game between the Fort Bliss Falcons and the Cannonneers of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, was played for a trophy called "The Little Brown Dud." The Cannoneers won the game and took home the Little Brown Dud. Cotton was awarded All-Army Quarterback in 1955.

On July 2, 1962, the Texans signed Len Dawson, thus ending Davidson's career as the Dallas quarterback. After the 1962 season opener, he was traded to the Oakland Raiders for the first overall selection in the 1963 American Football League Draft, which was used by the Chiefs to select future Hall of Famer Buck Buchanan. Just two weeks later, Davidson started at quarterback in his first game with the Raiders. Playing against his former team, he threw for 248 yards and rushed for a touchdown in a 26–16 loss to the Texans.

The high moments of his career were being selected to the American Football League All-Star Game twice: in 1961 and in 1963. He was honored as the MVP of the 1961 AFL All-Star Game while with the Texans.

Davidson finished with an all-time record of 19–33–1 as a starter.

Personal life and death

Davidson died in December 2022, at the age of 91.

See also

List of American Football League players

Billy Patterson (1937)

Jack Price (1945–1947)

Adrian Burk (1948–1949)

Larry Isbell (1950–1951)

Cotton Davidson (1952–1953)

Billy Hooper (1954)

Bobby Jones (1955)

Doyle Traylor (1956–1957)

Buddy Humphrey (1958)

Ron Stanley (1959–1960)

Bobby Ply (1960–1961)

Don Trull (1962–1963)

Terry Southall (1964–1966)

Kenny Stockdale (1965)

Alvin Flynn (1967)

Steve Stuart (1968–1969)

Si Southall (1970–1971)

Neal Jeffrey (1972–1974)

Mark Jackson (1975–1976)

Steve Smith (1977–1978)

Mike Brannan (1979–1982)

Jay Jeffrey (1980–1981)

Cody Carlson (1983–1986)

Tom Muecke (1984–1985)

Brad Goebel (1987–1990)

J. J. Joe (1990–1993)

Jeff Watson (1994–1997)

Jermaine Alfred (1996–1999)

Greg Cicero (2000–2002)

Guy Tomcheck (2000)

Kerry Dixon (2000)

Josh Zachry (2000–2002)

Aaron Karas (2001–2003)

Shawn Bell (2003–2006)

Dane King (2004)

Terrance Parks (2004–2005)

Blake Szymanski (2006–2009)

Michael Machen (2007)

Kirby Freeman (2008)

Robert Griffin (2008–2011)

Nick Florence (2009, 2012)

Bryce Petty (2013–2014)

Seth Russell (2014–2016)

Jarrett Stidham (2015)

Chris Johnson (2015)

Zach Smith (2016–2017)

Anu Solomon (2017)

Charlie Brewer (2017–2020)

Jalan McClendon (2018)

Gerry Bohanon (2021)

Blake Shapen (2021–2022)

vte1954 NFL Draft first-round selections

Bobby Garrett

Lamar McHan

Art Hunter

Veryl Switzer

Cotton Davidson

Stan Wallace

Johnny Lattner

Steve Meilinger

Neil Worden

Ed Beatty

Bernie Faloney

John Bauer

Dick Chapman

vteBaltimore Colts 1954 NFL Draft selections

Cotton Davidson

Larry Grigg

Don Ellis

Glenn Turner

Dennis McCotter

Bob Adams

Bob Schoonmaker

Bob Leberman

Don Chelf

Chuck McMillan

Ordell Braase

Bobby Moorhead

Alex Sandusky

Tommy Adkins

Dick Shinaut

Charley Wenzlau

Raymond Berry

Bob Lade

Bob Myers

Leon Hrdeman

Don Kerlin

Pepper Rodgers

Jesus Esparza

Bill Sennett

Ray Ecstrom

Claude Talisferro

Pat Abbruzzi

vteIndianapolis Colts first-round draft picksFormerly the Baltimore Colts (1953–1983)

Vessels

Davidson

Shaw

Ameche

Moore

Parker

Lyles

Burkett

Mix

Matte

Harris

Vogel

Woodson

Curtis

Ball

Smith

Detwiler

Williams

Hinton

Bulaich

McCauley

Dunlap

Drougas

Jones

Ehrmann

Dutton

Carr

Huff

Novak

Burke

McCall

Krauss

Dickey

Hatchett

McMillan

Thompson

Cooks

Schlichter

Elway

Coleman

Solt

Bickett

Hand

Bennett

Rison

George

Emtman

Coryatt

Dawkins

Faulk

Alberts

Johnson

Harrison

Glenn

Manning

James

Morris

Wayne

Freeney

Clark

Jackson

Addai

Gonzalez

Brown

Hughes

Castonzo

Luck

Werner

Dorsett

Kelly

Hooker

Nelson

Paye

vteIndianapolis Colts starting quarterbacksPlayed in Baltimore (1953–1983)

Fred Enke (1953–1954)

George Taliaferro (1953)

Ed Mioduszewski (1953)

Gary Kerkorian (1954)

Cotton Davidson (1954)

George Shaw (1955–1956, 1958)

Johnny Unitas (1956–1967, 1969–1972)

Gary Cuozzo (1965–1966)

Tom Matte (1965)

Earl Morrall (1968–1971)

Marty Domres (1972–1974)

Bert Jones (1973–1981)

Bill Troup (1978)

Mike Kirkland (1978)

Greg Landry (1979–1980)

David Humm (1981)

Mike Pagel (1982–1985)

Mark Herrmann (1983–1984, 1992)

Art Schlichter (1984–1985)

Matt Kofler (1985)

Jack Trudeau (1986–1990, 1992–1993)

Gary Hogeboom (1986–1988)

Blair Kiel (1987)

Chris Chandler (1988–1989)

Tom Ramsey (1989)

Jeff George (1990–1993)

Jim Harbaugh (1994–1997)

Don Majkowski (1994)

Browning Nagle (1994)

Craig Erickson (1995)

Paul Justin (1995–1997)

Kelly Holcomb (1997)

Peyton Manning (1998–2010)

Kerry Collins (2011)

Curtis Painter (2011)

Dan Orlovsky (2011)

Andrew Luck (2012–2016, 2018)

Matt Hasselbeck (2015)

Josh Freeman (2015)

Scott Tolzien (2016–2017)

Jacoby Brissett (2017, 2019)

Brian Hoyer (2019)

Philip Rivers (2020)

Carson Wentz (2021)

Matt Ryan (2022–present)

Sam Ehlinger (2022)

vteDallas Texans 1960 inaugural season roster

14 Hunter Enis

18 Don Flynn

19 Cotton Davidson

21 Dave Webster

22 Johnny Bookman

23 Jim Swink

28 Abner Haynes

30 Jack Spikes

32 Bo Dickinson

33 Curley Johnson

35 Smokey Stover

36 Clem Daniels

40 Charlie Jackson

42 Johnny Robinson

44 Jimmy Harris

46 Carroll Zaruba

48 Duane Wood

50 Jim Barton

54 Ted Greene

55 Tom Dimmick

56 Walt Corey

60 Al Reynolds

61 Bob Hudson

62 Sid Fournet

63 Marvin Terrell

64 Bill Krisher

66 Dick Frey

68 R. B. Nunnery

69 Sherrill Headrick

70 Jack Stone

71 Ray Collins

72 Paul Rochester

74 Jerry Cornelison

75 Rufus Granderson

76 Walter Napier

79 Charley Diamond

80 Max Boydston

85 Ed Bernet

86 Paul Miller

87 Mel Branch

88 Chris Burford

89 Bob Bryant

Head coach: Hank Stram

Assistant coaches: Ed Hughes

Bill Walsh

vteKansas City Chiefs starting quarterbacksFormerly the Dallas Texans (1960–1962)

Cotton Davidson (1960–1961)

Hunter Enis (1960)

Randy Duncan (1961)

Len Dawson (1962–1975)

Eddie Wilson (1963)

Pete Beathard (1965)

Jacky Lee (1968–1969)

Mike Livingston (1969–1979)

Tony Adams (1975, 1977–1978)

Steve Fuller (1979–1982)

Bill Kenney (1980–1988)

Todd Blackledge (1984–1987)

Matt Stevens (1987)

Frank Seurer (1987)

Doug Hudson (1987)

Steve DeBerg (1988–1991)

Ron Jaworski (1989)

Steve Pelluer (1989)

Mark Vlasic (1991)

Dave Krieg (1992–1993)

Joe Montana (1993–1994)

Steve Bono (1994–1996)

Rich Gannon (1996–1998)

Elvis Grbac (1997–2000)

Warren Moon (2000)

Trent Green (2001–2006)

Damon Huard (2006–2008)

Brodie Croyle (2007–2010)

Tyler Thigpen (2008)

Matt Cassel (2009–2012)

Tyler Palko (2011)

Kyle Orton (2011)

Brady Quinn (2012)

Alex Smith (2013–2017)

Chase Daniel (2013–2014)

Nick Foles (2016)

Patrick Mahomes (2017–present)

Matt Moore (2019)

Chad Henne (2020)

vteDallas Texans 1962 AFL champions

1 Tom Pennington

10 Jimmy Saxton

12 Eddie Wilson

14 Bobby Ply

16 Len Dawson

19 Cotton Davidson

20 Bobby Hunt

26 Frank Jackson

28 Abner Haynes

30 Jack Spikes

32 Curtis McClinton

35 Smokey Stover

42 Johnny Robinson

44 Edward Kelley

45 Dave Grayson

48 Duane Wood

54 Ted Greene

55 E. J. Holub

56 Walt Corey

60 Al Reynolds

63 Marvin Terrell

64 Curt Merz

65 Jon Gilliam

66 Sonny Bishop

67 Carl Larpenter

69 Sherrill Headrick

72 Paul Rochester

74 Jerry Cornelison

75 Jerry Mays

77 Jim Tyrer

79 Charley Diamond

81 Tommy Brooker

82 Bill Miller

84 Fred Arbanas

85 Bill Hull

86 Dick Davis

87 Mel Branch

88 Chris Burford

Head coach: Hank Stram

Assistant coaches: Tom Catlin

Bob Ghilotti

Ed Hughes

Bill Walsh

vteOakland Raiders 1967 AFL champions

00 Jim Otto

3 Daryle Lamonica

11 Mike Eischeid

16 George Blanda

19 Cotton Davidson

20 Warren Powers

21 Rodger Bird

22 Larry Todd

23 Rod Sherman

24 Willie Brown

25 Fred Biletnikoff

29 Howie Williams

30 Roger Hagberg

33 Billy Cannon

34 Gus Otto

35 Hewritt Dixon

36 Clem Daniels

38 Estes Banks

40 Pete Banaszak

42 Bill Laskey

45 Dave Grayson

47 Kent McCloughan

48 Bill Budness

50 Duane Benson

52 J. R. Williamson

53 Dan Birdwell

55 Dan Conners

62 Bob Kruse

63 Gene Upshaw

65 Wayne Hawkins

70 Jim Harvey

73 Richard Sligh

74 Tom Keating

76 Bob Svihus

77 Ike Lassiter

78 Dan Archer

79 Harry Schuh

81 Warren Wells

83 Ben Davidson

84 Ken Herock

85 Carleton Oats

86 Bill Fairband

88 Dave Kocourek

89 Bill Miller

Head coach: John Rauch

Coaches: Tom Dahms

John Madden

Marv Marinovich

John Polonchek

Ollie Spencer

Charlie Sumner

vteLas Vegas Raiders starting quarterbacksPlayed in Oakland (1960–1981, 1995–2019) and Los Angeles (1982–1994)

Tom Flores (1960–1961, 1963–1966)

Babe Parilli (1960)

Cotton Davidson (1962–1964, 1966)

Hunter Enis (1962)

Don Heinrich (1962)

Dick Wood (1965)

Daryle Lamonica (1967–1973)

George Blanda (1968)

Ken Stabler (1971–1979)

Larry Lawrence (1974–1975)

Mike Rae (1976–1977)

Jim Plunkett (1980–1986)

Dan Pastorini (1980)

Marc Wilson (1981, 1983–1987)

Rusty Hilger (1987)

Vince Evans (1987, 1993, 1995)

Jay Schroeder (1988–1992)

Steve Beuerlein (1988–1989)

Todd Marinovich (1991–1992)

Jeff Hostetler (1993–1996)

Billy Joe Hobert (1995–1996)

Jeff George (1997–1998)

Donald Hollas (1998)

Wade Wilson (1998)

Rich Gannon (1999–2004)

Rick Mirer (2003)

Marques Tuiasosopo (2003, 2005)

Kerry Collins (2004–2005)

Aaron Brooks (2006)

Andrew Walter (2006, 2008)

Josh McCown (2007)

Daunte Culpepper (2007)

JaMarcus Russell (2007–2009)

Bruce Gradkowski (2009–2010)

Charlie Frye (2009)

Jason Campbell (2010–2011)

Kyle Boller (2011)

Carson Palmer (2011–2012)

Terrelle Pryor (2012–2013)

Matt Flynn (2013)

Matt McGloin (2013, 2016)

Derek Carr (2014–present)

EJ Manuel (2017)