Nate Davis Elects To Enter Indoor Football Free Agency
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MARTINS FERRY - Nate Davis's journey as an indoor football league quarterback has taken him to some great places … Amarillo, Albuquerque, Kansas City, Orlando and San Antonio. Where will be next?
The 39-year-old Bellaire native will be entering his 16th year in indoor football, but his first as a free agent. After leading the San Diego Strike Force to the IFL Western Conference finals the past two seasons, Davis and the Strike Force are no longer.
"It was a great season. A great group of guys," Davis said while visiting the Ohio Valley tending to some family matters. "Of course, we fell short. In fact, we came up short the last two seasons in the Western Conference finals. It sucked to not be able to get over that hump."
"Me and San Diego decided to part our ways and go in other directions," Davis added. "They wanted to go another route without me, so why not go into free agency. I feel that I still have a lot to give to the game. I'm still playing at a high level, and until someone says they don't want me, that's when I'll quit playing."
Does he have a favorite place he's played?
"Not really a favorite place. It's been a journey that I have absolutely loved," he said. "I did spend eight-and-a-half years in Amarillo, though.
"Every place I've been, I've left my mark on."
Davis said he has received interest already from a handful of teams, including the Wheeling Miners. He said all indoor leagues run on 1-year contracts and players have until September 15 to file for free agency. Teams can start signing players on Oct. 1, according to Davis, who was a fifth round selection by San Francisco in the 2009 NFL Draft.
"I just want to play. I love playing football and I want to continue to do that as long as I have enough left in the tank," he added.
During his illustrious indoor career, the strong-armed Ball State product has passed for more than 35,000 career yards (36,205) and a whopping 800 TDs (802) - both numbers that would rank right up there with all the other great indoor quarterbacks, if not surpassing them.
The key?
"Just by watching film ... knowing what the defense is doing," he stressed. "That's what has gotten me through this long journey. My main mentor has been Julian Reese. He's the one that taught me a lot of the game and I kind of took it from there and ran with it."
Davis played for Reese with the Amarillo Venom on three different occasions, winning back-to-back Lone Star Football League championships in 2012-13.
In his final season with the Venom, Davis led Amarillo to an 8-5 record while leading the league with 71 touchdown passes and 3,271 passing yards, completing 293 of 458 attempts with 13 interceptions. For his performance, he was named CIF Offensive Player of the Year and CIF Most Valuable Player.
Does free agency possibly include the Canadian Football League which is nearly finished for 2026?
"Outdoor football is over for me," he said. "I'm enjoying this indoor game. I've got a couple more years left in me. I've got a great support system with my wife and everything."
Davis said his biggest adjustment to playing indoors was how to throw the ball.
"Indoor football is more about touch rather than how strong your arm is," he pointed out. "That's what Coach Reese taught me and I've learned a lot along the journey. You have to be able to put the ball in different spots and I try to perfect that every year."
When his career does come to an end, he will stay involved on the sidelines in some capacity. He has coached a summer league team for the past few years, but took this year off.
"That is a big part of my life. All of the kids I coached last year went to high school this year, so that's another reason I'm home," he offered. "I took the year off from coaching, so my wife, who lets me play or coach football year-round, and I are going on a honeymoon."