Thousands of people have walked the halls of One Arrowhead Drive over the years as the Kansas City Chiefs grew into one of the most prominent organizations in all of sports. Only a few, however, can say they've been on the job for nearly four decades.
Team Curator - Chiefs Hall of Honor and Co-Historian Mike Davidson is one of those few.
Davidson, who first joined the Chiefs in 1989 as Head Equipment Manager, was named a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's "Awards of Excellence" class this week in recognition of his incredible career.
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.
Throughout his incredible NFL career, Davidson has worked alongside 23 Pro Football Hall of Famers, not to mention hundreds of assistants, interns and staffers, leaving a positive impact on each and every one of them.
Through his humble wisdom, genuinely kind demeanor and relentless work ethic, Davidson has made the National Football League better than he found it, earning an honor from Canton that is more than deserved.
