The ex-wife of former NFL linebacker Thomas Davis has entered a pretrial diversion program that could result in the dismissal of misdemeanor assault and battery charges stemming from an alleged confrontation with a woman she believed had a romantic involvement with the retired player.
Kelly Davis resolved the case Monday by agreeing to the conditions of the program, according to court records reported by TMZ. She must complete a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention course, stay away from the alleged victim, and pay $1,380 in restitution. If she fulfills every requirement, the charge will be dismissed. Her attorney, James J. Exum, described the outcome as “a very fair resolution” for a client with no prior criminal history.
The incident occurred Aug. 26, 2025, at the Charlotte chiropractic office of Laura Watterson. According to court documents and Watterson’s account, Kelly Davis arrived while Watterson was with a patient, confronted her about an alleged relationship with Thomas Davis, and eventually struck her. Watterson alleged that Davis punched her in the chest, then hit her again, knocking off her glasses and striking her on the head as she tried to guide Davis out of the office.
A warrant was issued Aug. 29, and Kelly Davis was taken into custody Sept. 3. She was charged with one count of misdemeanor assault and battery.
Kelly Davis has acknowledged striking Watterson but maintains she acted in self-defense. She told TMZ that she went to the office to speak with Watterson about the alleged involvement with Thomas Davis. During the conversation, she said, Watterson grabbed her arm and dug her nails into it. “That’s when I slapped her,” Kelly Davis said. She also claimed she hit Watterson again after being escorted out. Kelly Davis has insisted the confrontation was not driven by jealousy and stated she has no interest in reconciling with her former husband: “I don’t want that man back ever in my life.”
Thomas and Kelly Davis married in March 2008 and have four children, including Notre Dame linebacker Thomas Davis Jr. They separated in March 2024. In court filings related to the divorce, Kelly Davis alleged that Thomas Davis engaged in “illicit sexual conduct with at least six” other women during their marriage. The divorce was finalized in December 2025.
Thomas Davis, the 14th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Georgia, spent the bulk of his 16-year career with the Carolina Panthers. He earned three Pro Bowl selections, recorded more than 1,000 career tackles, and later played for the Los Angeles Chargers and Washington. He has not been charged in connection with the assault case and is not accused of any involvement in the physical altercation.
The resolution through pretrial diversion means Kelly Davis avoids a formal conviction if she completes the program successfully. The case highlights the personal fallout that can accompany high-profile separations in professional sports, where public scrutiny of private relationships often intensifies after divorce filings become public.
No further court appearances are expected if the diversion conditions are met.
Flip the pages for the now single Kelly Davis.
