Getty
Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt.
The Kansas City Chiefs shared news on March 22, in between free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft.
“Congratulations to former Chiefs equipment manager Mike Davidson on being named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Awards of Excellence 👏,” the post read, along with a photo of Davidson and a follow-up article attached.
According to KC team reporter Matt McMullen, Davidson “first joined the Chiefs in 1989 as Head Equipment Manager.”
This week, he was “named a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s ‘Awards of Excellence’ class,” in recognition of his “incredible career.”
Now, if you’re wondering what that is, the Pro Football Hall of Fame website states that “the Pro Football Hall of Fame established the Awards of Excellence in 2022 to recognize significant contributors to the game in ‘behind-the-scenes’ roles. In addition to public relations personnel, the program honors career Assistant Coaches, Athletic Trainers, Equipment Managers and Film/Video Directors.”
Davidson has now earned this proud honor, according to the Chiefs.
More on Chiefs’ Ex-Equipment Manager Mike Davidson Amid Good News
McMullen went on to detail Davidson’s NFL career. He wrote the following:
A native of Ohio, and a Bowling Green State University Graduate, Davidson broke into the NFL as a member of the equipment staff with the Cleveland Browns in 1984. When then head coach Marty Schottenheimer departed Cleveland for the Chiefs ahead of the 1989 season, Davidson followed with an opportunity to lead Schottenheimer’s equipment department in Kansas City.
It was a chance Davidson didn’t waste, and as the years went on, he made his new franchise his life’s work.
Davidson worked under six coaches during his tenure as Equipment Manager, serving as a critical component of the Chiefs’ weekly operations. He improved the quality of the game league-wide as well, acting as a guiding force that changed how equipment departments functioned for the better.
Notably, Davidson helped establish the Certification Committee within the Athletic Equipment Managers Association, contributing to developing sports equipment industry standards. He was also a contributing author to the first Equipment Managers’ Certification Manual.
Davidson’s devotion to the Chiefs has continued in the years since his days in the equipment department concluded in 2011, too. He currently serves as one of two Team Historians in addition to acting curator of the Chiefs Hall of Honor, stewarding the greatest players and moments in franchise history for future generations.
Per McMullen, Davidson has worked with “23 Pro Football Hall of Famers” throughout his career. The KC team reporter also complimented his “humble wisdom, genuinely kind demeanor, and relentless work ethic.”
How the Pro Football Hall of Fame ‘Awards of Excellence’ Are Decided On
According to the aforementioned Pro Football Hall of Fame website, “the five groups presenting the Awards of Excellence create their own selection committees and set their own criteria for choosing new members. The Hall of Fame does not participate in any nominating or voting.”
In other words, Davidson was seemingly nominated by a committee of his peers. Which, in this case, would be fellow NFL equipment managers around the league.
Chiefs Kingdom, join the KC franchise in congratulating a staple of this organization spanning back to 1989. McMullen concluded his article by proclaiming that this Davidson news is “more than deserved.”
Michael Obermuller covers the NFL as an Associate Editor for Heavy Sports, where he began writing in 2021. His areas of focus include the NFL breaking news operation, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers, with expert knowledge on each based on years of coverage. Michael is an NYC area native and Quinnipiac graduate. More about Michael Obermuller
More Heavy on Chiefs
Loading more stories
