Carlton Davis III Reflects on Lions Tenure as He Eyes Super Bowl with Patriots
Carlton Davis III is heading back to the Super Bowl - just not with the team many thought he’d help get there.
After walking in free agency last offseason, the veteran cornerback took his talents to the New England Patriots, where he's become a cornerstone of a defense that’s found its identity again at just the right time. Now, with the Patriots set to face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, Davis is one win away from the ultimate prize - but he hasn’t forgotten the team he left behind.
Davis was a key piece of Detroit’s defensive resurgence in recent years, and the Lions’ 2023 and 2024 squads were arguably the franchise’s most complete teams in decades. With elite coaching, a strong locker room culture, and a roster built to contend, Detroit looked like a team on the cusp. But as Davis knows all too well, the NFL doesn’t always reward potential.
“It should have been two straight years I’m here, for sure,” Davis said in a recent interview. “I think about that a lot.
That's just how the NFL goes sometimes. You got a great team, great coaching staff, great culture, but sometimes the team can be - injuries.
Injuries, that’s the name of the game. It’s who can be healthiest the longest, and usually the team that wins it is the healthiest team.”
That’s not just lip service. Davis lived it in Detroit, where injuries at key moments derailed promising seasons. And while he’s now thriving in New England, his connection to the Lions runs deep.
Free Agency Departure Was Business, Not Bitterness
Davis signed a three-year, $54 million deal with the Patriots, but his departure from Detroit wasn’t about a lack of interest in returning. According to Davis, he wanted to stay - the two sides just couldn’t come to terms.
“I love Detroit,” he said. “Before the season started, I was rooting for those guys as far as like them making it back to the playoffs.
I still got a lot of close relationships with the team. Even like how it went with free agency with us and Brad and Dan, it was like a straight-up process.”
No drama. No bad blood. Just the business side of football rearing its head.
The Lions pivoted by signing D.J. Reed, a talented corner in his own right, but his first season in Detroit was marred by injuries.
Reed managed two interceptions and a forced fumble, but staying on the field was the real challenge. It’s hard not to wonder what the secondary might’ve looked like with Davis still anchoring it.
Familiar Faces, Familiar Frustration
Davis isn’t the only former Lion making noise this postseason. Quandre Diggs, another ex-Detroit standout, has also played a key role in getting his new team to the big stage. For Lions fans, it’s a bittersweet sight - watching former players shine under the Super Bowl lights while Detroit continues to chase its first appearance.
But if there’s any solace, it’s that these players still carry Detroit with them. Davis’ respect for the franchise, its leadership, and his former teammates is clear. And while he’s now focused on helping the Patriots finish the job, there’s no denying that a part of him still wonders what could’ve been in the Motor City.
As Super Bowl LX approaches, Davis is where every NFL player dreams of being - one win from a championship. And even though he’s wearing a different uniform, his journey is a reminder of just how thin the margins are in this league. Right place, right time, right health - that’s often the difference between heartbreak and a ring.
For Davis, the road to the Super Bowl didn’t go through Detroit. But the Lions were a big part of the journey that got him there.