Terrell Davis: From Gridiron Hero to Personal Inspiration

Terrell Davis is known by many to be one of the greatest running backs in Denver Broncos history, the two-time Super Bowl winner and MVP once ruled the gridiron with his powerful running on the field and great personality off. His charming ways have made him a popular figure even now—long after his retirement.

However, many probably don't realize how much of an inspiration Davis has been to one young lady who nearly ended her life prematurely—if not for Davis' presence on her television screen in 1998.

The story, published by The Japan Times (h/t/ Bronco Talk), is about a young woman named Noriko Kokura. Kokura, who is now a 28-year old running back for the Sacramento Sirens of the Independent Womens Football League (IWFL), tells the story of how Davis changed her life forever during Super Bowl XXXII—the night the Broncos captured their first NFL Championship under John Elway.

Below is an excerpt from the story:

After the game, Noriko Kokura was going to end her life. 

But she stopped, because she found a ray of hope through the game of football.

Or more precisely, through a player.

While harboring that feeling (of taking her own life), she watched Super Bowl XXXII between the Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers, sitting in front of a TV set along with her father, like they had done every year since she was in elementary school.

Kokura, then in her final year of junior high school, had an eye-opening experience.  She was intrigued by the Broncos’ ace running back, Terrell Davis. Her heart was moved to see Davis building such tight bonds with his teammates on the field.

“His game sent a ray of light into my heart,” Kokura said in an e-mail interview. “I’d seen so many games before, but I’d never seen a player believing in his teammates that much. And his teammates believed in him too.” 

From that moment on, she abandoned the idea of killing herself. (Kaz Nagatsuka, The Japan Times, 3/28/11)

Kokura, eventually, was able to overcome all of her disorders through the game of football and found success both on and off the field using her love of the game as a guide—a love inspired and awakened with the help of one very special player.