Russell Davis, III (born September 15, 1956) is an American former professional football player.

After rushing for 1,092 yards as a junior, he was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1977 Michigan Wolverines football team that won the Big Ten Conference championship.

As a senior, he was a co-captain of the 1978 Michigan team and a first-team All-Big Ten running back.

Davis played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1979 to 1983.

[4] As a true freshman, Davis was a backup tailback behind Gordon Bell on the 1975 Michigan Wolverines football team.

[6] Davis was selected as the Most Valuable Player on the 1977 Michigan team that compiled a 10-2 record, tied for the Big Ten championship, and finished the season ranked #9 in the final AP Poll.

[6] As a senior, Davis was selected co-captain of the 1978 Michigan team that again compiled a 10-2 record, repeated as Big Ten co-champions, and finished the season ranked #5 in the final AP Poll.

[6][10] At the end of the 1978 season, he was selected by the conference coaches as a first-team running back on the 1978 All-Big Ten team.

[1] Due to a broken arm, he missed the entire 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season in which the team won Super Bowl XIV.

[1] Davis's playing career was cut short by sarcoidosis, a condition that causes lung scarring and a diminished breathing capacity.

He became the athletic director for the Jackson Public Schools in 1997 and held that job until 2010 when he retired at age 53 for health reasons.