I couldn’t be more excited to join the New Orleans Saints this season.

Free agency is an interesting time. We had heard from quite a few teams that they were interested in signing me so we knew going into it that things were looking good for us. I thought the hardest decision would be, do I stay or do I go? I know the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. But the Jets didn’t make an offer all season, neither did they make an offer going into free agency. When they signed a new linebacker, the writing was on the wall. This was confirmation we were leaving.

So I prayed, “OK God, send me where You want me.” The Saints began making offers that stood out to me. And once they resigned Drew Brees, one of the legendary quarterbacks of all time, I really wanted to play there. My hope was to play with one of the top three: Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees or Tom Brady. This was going to be a huge opportunity for me!

We were about to board a plane to Arkansas for a speaking engagement I had committed to when my agent was making the final decision. There was another team that was really close in what they were offering. I told my agent it was in God’s hands and that I trusted him to make the decision. He currently had the Saints on the phone, which was where I wanted to go, but I also wanted the best deal that was offered. Ultimately, I knew God would send me wherever He wanted me. By the time I got off the plane, the deal was closed. My phone was blowing off the hook. I was going to the Saints!

This really is a threefold blessing for me: we’re close to home, I’m with a team I know values me, and this team is a really good contending team. That’s really all I can ask for! The Saints have been a really good team for a long time; they were right there last year. I want to be a part of their success this year. Even more so, I am looking forward to being under the leadership of one of the greatest, most decorated quarterbacks in the game. For Drew, it’s about championships. Our job as a team is to make sure we get there.

I’m interested to see what God has for me this year. I look at every locker room I go into as a mission field. I’m sure there is a body of believers on this team and I’m looking forward to building relationships with those guys. I want to link up with them so we can keep each other strong throughout the year. I’m also excited to build relationships with the rest of the guys on the team. I don’t know what God has in store for these relationships; He may have just one guy He wants me to reach this year, or it may be twenty. Whatever it is, and whoever it is, He has a reason and plan for having me here. My goal is to lead by example both on and off the field.

As a child of God, I’m thrilled to be called a Saint. As a professional football player, I can’t wait to join this team and reach new heights this year.

— Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints linebacker

The Increase, part of the Sports Spectrum Network, is a community of Christian pro athletes sharing their personal stories of the decrease of self and the increase of Christ (John 3:30). Visit TheIncrease.com for more stories and videos.