Jacqueline Davidson enters her fifth season with the Buccaneers and second as the Vice President of Football Research after being promoted from Senior Director of Football Research.
Davidson is responsible for supporting the front office and coaching staff in roster and strategy decisions through research and development. She also works alongside General Manager Jason Licht and Assistant General Manager Mike Greenberg on player contracts and salary cap decisions.
In 2024, Davidson led the contract negotiations that resulted in the re-signings of Pro Bowl quarterback Baker Mayfield and All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr., retaining players on both sides of the ball that helped lead Tampa Bay to the 2023 NFC Divisional Round. Davidson also administered the re-signing of kicker Chase McLaughlin, who set a single-season franchise record for field goal percentage (93.5%) in his first year in Tampa Bay, earning first-team All-Pro recognition from Pro Football Focus. The Buccaneers also brought back two more of the NFL's top 2024 free agents in linebacker Lavonte David and wide receiver Mike Evans. Davidson and the Tampa Bay front office didn't stop there, as the team also sealed a deal to return a former starting safety from its Super Bowl LV championship team in Jordan Whitehead reuniting one of the league's top safety duos.
During the 2023 offseason, Davidson contributed to the re-signings of key contributors in cornerback Jamel Dean, outside linebacker Anthony Nelson, and linebacker Lavonte David. Dean, Nelson, and David ranked second, third, and fourth, respectively, in total snaps by Buccaneers defenders during the 2022 season. In addition, Dean and David were rated as the fifth- and sixth-best free agents available, respectively, heading into the 2023 offseason, per Pro Football Focus.
Davidson was instrumental in re-signing a pair of key starters in 2022 in cornerback Carlton Davis III and wide receiver Chris Godwin, in addition to retaining center Ryan Jensen. Prior to the 2022 offseason, Davidson assisted with securing an extension for Buccaneers Pro Bowl nose tackle Vita Vea leading into the team's Week 18 game.
Following Super Bowl LV, Davidson played a vital role in helping the Buccaneers bring back all 22 starters, including a total of six free agent re-signings and two contract extensions. This marked the first time in the salary cap era that a defending Super Bowl champ has returned all 22 starters.
Before joining the Buccaneers, Davidson spent 11 seasons working in football administration with the New York Jets, spending eight-plus years as the Manager, Football Administration from 2007-15 before being elevated to Director, Football Administration (2015-18).
In her role as Director, Football Administration, Davidson served as the Jets' lead negotiator of player contracts and managed the team's salary cap and player budgets. She was also tasked with adhering to the regulations of the NFL's collective-bargaining agreement and predicting future trends relating to the league's salary cap.
Davidson entered the league as a legal intern with the National Football League's Management Council in 2004, while pursuing her law degree. She also worked as a staff attorney for the United States District Court in Alabama and a judicial law clerk for Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins prior to earning her position with the Jets in 2007.
After graduating from Davidson College in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, Davidson earned a Juris Doctor from Cornell University School of Law in 2005. Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, she is a member of the New York State Bar Association.
