Jim David (American football)
| Date of birth | December 2, 1927 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Florence, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Date of death | July 29, 2007 (aged 79) |
| Place of death | Detroit MI |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Defensive Back |
| College | Colorado A&M |
| NFL draft | 1952 / Round: 22 / Pick: 261 |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1952–1959 | Detroit Lions |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Pro Bowls | 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959 |
| Career stats | |
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James Theodoric David (Hatchet, Rebel) (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.
Jim David played for Colorado State University A&M. In his senior year, he was ranked second in the nation in receptions. 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.
Jim 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 Christiansen 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.
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