Domenique Davis Bio
Domenique Davis (born February 28, 1996) is an American professional football defensive tackle who has spent time with several National Football League (NFL) and developmental league franchises. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and listed around 148 pounds during his college years, he has built his career on the interior of the defensive line. He is best known for his stops with the New York Jets, the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL), and multiple stints with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A native of North Carolina, Davis followed a less traditional route into the professional ranks, playing at the college level for both Shaw University and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke before reaching the NFL. His professional journey has included practice squad promotions, short-term active roster appearances, and reserve contracts, reflecting the path of many undrafted interior linemen who work to establish themselves at the highest level of the sport.
Early Life and Background
Domenique Davis was born on February 28, 1996, in Laurinburg, North Carolina. He grew up in the same community and attended Scotland High School in Laurinburg, where he began playing organized football. The town of Laurinburg, located in the Sandhills region of southern North Carolina, has a long tradition of producing athletes who progress to collegiate programs across the state and the wider Southeast.
During his high school years, Davis developed into a defensive lineman, working on the strength and technique that would later define his professional profile. After graduating from Scotland High School, he took his first college step by enrolling at Shaw University, a historically Black college located in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he played during the 2014 season.
Path to American Football
After his time at Shaw, Davis transferred to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, a Division II program competing in the Mountain East Conference and later the Conference Carolinas. He played for the UNC Pembroke Braves from 2017 through 2019, anchoring the interior of the defensive line for three seasons. His production at the Division II level, combined with his measurables, drew attention from professional scouts.
Following the 2019 college campaign, Davis declared for the 2020 NFL Draft. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the typical pre-draft process was significantly altered, with pro days and in-person workouts limited. He went undrafted but received an opportunity to sign with an NFL franchise shortly after the draft concluded.
Domenique Davis Career
Early Career (2020)
Domenique Davis signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on April 25, 2020. His time with the Jets proved brief, as he was released on July 31, 2020, with a failed physical designation, ending his first NFL stint before the regular season began.
After his release, Davis spent time training and waiting for the next opportunity. The shutdown of several spring leagues in 2020 limited his options, but the formation of the new United States Football League gave him a path back to competitive football in 2022.
Houston Gamblers Breakthrough (2022)
On February 23, 2022, Davis was selected by the Houston Gamblers in the 26th round of the 2022 USFL draft. The Gamblers, coached by Kevin Sumlin, gave him an opportunity to play significant snaps on the interior of the defensive line. Davis appeared in 10 games during the 2022 USFL season, a strong workload for a first-year professional.
He made an immediate statistical impact, recording 24 solo tackles and 4 sacks over the course of the season. The combination of run-stopping ability and pass-rush production helped him earn another opportunity at the NFL level once the USFL season concluded.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2022–2024)
On July 26, 2022, Davis signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, the reigning AFC Champions at the time. He was released on August 30, 2022, during final roster cuts, but signed to the practice squad the following day. His first NFL regular-season action came on October 31, 2022, when he was elevated to the active roster ahead of a Monday Night Football matchup against the Cleveland Browns. With starting nose tackle D. J. Reader sidelined by a knee injury, Davis played 20 defensive snaps and recorded 2 tackles in his debut.
He was signed to the active roster on November 5, 2022, briefly waived, and then returned to the practice squad. On January 31, 2023, Davis signed a reserve/future contract with the Bengals to remain with the organization into the next league year. In 2023, he again bounced between the practice squad and active roster, being elevated in December when Reader suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury. He was released on December 25 and re-signed to the practice squad two days later, before signing another reserve/future deal on January 8, 2024.
During the 2024 offseason and preseason, Davis was waived on August 27, 2024, and returned to the practice squad. He was released on October 22, 2024, and on December 24, 2024, he returned once more to the Bengals practice squad, marking his second stint with the franchise.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2024–2025)
On November 6, 2024, Davis signed with the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers, his first stint with the AFC North rival. He was released on December 6, 2024, but quickly returned to the Bengals practice squad for the holiday period. On January 14, 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers to begin the new league year.
Davis was waived by the Steelers on July 25, 2025, re-signed on July 29, 2025, and then waived again on August 26, 2025, with an injury designation as part of final roster cuts, reverting to injured reserve the following day. He was released from injured reserve on October 28, 2025, becoming a free agent.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most significant moments of Davis’s career came on October 31, 2022, when he made his NFL debut on Monday Night Football against the Cleveland Browns. Promoted from the practice squad in place of the injured D. J. Reader, Davis logged 20 snaps and recorded his first two NFL tackles, validating the development path he had taken through the USFL and practice squad ranks.
Domenique Davis Family
Personal Life
Domenique Davis was born and raised in Laurinburg, North Carolina, the same community where he attended Scotland High School. Public details about his family and personal relationships are not widely documented. As of the most recent reporting, Davis continues to focus on his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Davis was working to secure a roster spot with the Pittsburgh Steelers after signing a reserve/future contract in January 2025. The offseason brought roster competition at the defensive tackle position, with the Steelers retooling their interior rotation following changes from the prior year. Davis was waived on July 25, re-signed on July 29, and ultimately placed on injured reserve after final cuts on August 26, 2025.
After spending the early portion of the 2025 regular season on injured reserve, Davis was released from that designation on October 28, 2025, making him available to sign with any interested franchise. The timing meant he had the opportunity to join a contender late in the year, when teams often look to add depth along the defensive line for the stretch run.
Given his prior experience with the Bengals’ defensive system, his production in the 2022 USFL season, and his familiarity with AFC North rosters, Davis remained a viable practice squad and rotational option for teams seeking interior line help. His 2025 campaign, while disrupted by injury, kept his professional trajectory active and left open the possibility of another late-season opportunity.