Vernon Davis facts for kids
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Davis with the Washington Redskins in 2018
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| Position: | Tight end | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | January 31, 1984 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 248 lb (112 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Dunbar (Washington, D.C.) | ||||||
| College: | Maryland (2003–2005) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Vernon Leonard Davis (born January 31, 1984) is an American former professional football player. He played as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL).
Davis played college football for the Maryland Terrapins. He was recognized as an All-American in 2005. The San Francisco 49ers chose him as the sixth overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft. In 2009, he led the NFL in touchdown catches. This earned him his first of two Pro Bowl selections.
In the 2011–12 NFL playoffs, Davis made a famous game-winning touchdown catch for the 49ers. It was against the New Orleans Saints and is known as "the Catch III". In 2015, Davis joined the Denver Broncos. He won Super Bowl 50 with them against the Carolina Panthers. He then played for the Washington Redskins from 2016 until he retired after the 2019 season.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Vernon Davis grew up in Washington, D.C.. He went to Truesdell Elementary and Paul Public Charter School. Since Paul didn't have a football team, he played for MacFarland Middle School.
Davis later attended Dunbar High School in Washington. He was a talented athlete, playing football, basketball, and track & field. In football, he played many positions. These included tight end, safety, wide receiver, and linebacker. In his senior year, he caught 21 passes for 511 yards and five touchdowns. He was considered one of the best tight end prospects in the country.
- He was chosen to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
- SuperPrep magazine named him one of the top 50 players.
- USA Today selected him for their second team All-USA.
- He was ranked as the fourth-best tight end nationally by Rivals.com.
- He won the Gatorade Player of the Year award for Washington, D.C.
In track & field, Davis was very fast. He ran the 100 meters in 10.7 seconds. He was also the champion in the high jump, clearing 6 feet 6 inches.
College Football Career
Davis went to the University of Maryland. He studied studio art and played for the Maryland Terrapins football team.
Freshman and Sophomore Years
In 2003, as a freshman, Davis played in all 13 games. He had five catches for 87 yards. He also helped out on special teams. In 2004, his sophomore year, he played in almost every game. He caught 27 passes for 441 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Junior Year and All-American Honors
In 2005, Davis had an amazing junior year. He was named an All-American. He was also a first-team selection for the All-Atlantic Coast Conference. He was a finalist for the Mackey Award, given to the best tight end in the nation. He led his team with 51 catches and the conference with 871 receiving yards. He also scored six touchdowns.
Davis was known for his strength in college. He set school records for a tight end in various weightlifting exercises. He finished his college career with 1,371 yards on 83 catches. This was a great average for a tight end. In June 2025, Davis was nominated for the 2026 class of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
San Francisco 49ers (2006–2015)
The San Francisco 49ers picked Vernon Davis sixth overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. He was one of the highest-drafted tight ends ever. He impressed scouts with his speed, running the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds.
Early Seasons (2006–2008)
Davis's first NFL catch was a 31-yard touchdown in September 2006. He missed six games in his rookie year due to a leg injury. He finished 2006 with 20 catches, 265 yards, and three touchdowns. In 2007, he improved his numbers, catching 52 passes for 509 yards and four touchdowns. In 2008, he had a moment where his coach, Mike Singletary, benched him for a penalty. This motivated Davis to change his attitude and focus more on the team.
Breakout Year (2009)
The 2009 season was a huge year for Davis. He led the NFL with nine touchdown catches by Week 11. He finished the season with 13 touchdowns, tying the record for most touchdowns by a tight end in a single season. He also had 78 catches for 965 yards. Because of his great performance, he was chosen for his first Pro Bowl.
Continued Success (2010–2013)
Before the 2010 season, Davis signed a big contract, making him the highest-paid tight end in the league. He continued to play well, with 56 catches, 914 yards, and seven touchdowns in 2010.
In 2011, Davis helped the 49ers win their division and reach the playoffs. In a playoff game against the New Orleans Saints, he had an amazing game. He caught seven passes for 180 yards, setting a new playoff record for tight ends. He scored two touchdowns, including the game-winning catch with nine seconds left. This play is known as "Vernon Post." The 49ers later lost in the NFC Championship game.
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In 2012, Davis caught 41 passes for 548 yards and five touchdowns. In the playoffs, he helped the 49ers reach Super Bowl XLVII. He had six catches for 104 yards in the Super Bowl, but the 49ers lost a close game.
The 2013 season was another strong one for Davis. He caught 52 passes for 850 yards and scored 13 touchdowns again. He also added two touchdowns in the playoffs and was named to the Pro Bowl.
Final 49ers Season (2014)
In 2014, Davis dealt with injuries. He had 26 catches for 245 yards and two touchdowns.
Denver Broncos (2015)
In November 2015, Davis was traded to the Denver Broncos. He joined the team and played against his brother, Vontae Davis, who played for the Indianapolis Colts. Davis helped the Broncos win important games. On February 7, 2016, Davis achieved a major goal: he won his first Super Bowl championship. The Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers 24–10 in Super Bowl 50. Even though he didn't catch any passes in the Super Bowl, he made a crucial block that helped a teammate score a big run.
Washington Redskins (2016–2019)
On March 31, 2016, Davis signed a one-year contract with his hometown team, the Washington Redskins. He scored his first touchdown since 2014 in Week 6. He finished the 2016 season with 44 catches for 583 yards and two touchdowns.
In March 2017, Davis signed a new three-year contract with the Redskins. In 2017, he had 43 catches for 648 yards and three touchdowns. In 2018, he recorded 25 catches for 367 yards and two touchdowns. His final season in 2019 was cut short due to a concussion.
Retirement
Vernon Davis announced his retirement from professional football on February 2, 2020, before Super Bowl LIV.
NFL Career Statistics
Vernon Davis played 198 regular season games in his NFL career. He caught 583 passes for 7,562 yards and scored 63 touchdowns. He also had 15 rushing yards. In the playoffs, he played 11 games, catching 27 passes for 600 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Life Outside Football
Vernon Davis is a big fan of curling. He even hosted a curling event for his charity. He was named an honorary captain for the U.S. Olympic Curling team in 2010.
Davis is also a businessman. In 2010, he started Modern Class Design (MCD), a company that does interior design and landscape architecture. He also owns several Jamba Juice stores. In 2012, he opened Gallery 85, an art gallery in San Jose, California, to help new artists show their work.
In 2013, Davis explored a unique financial idea. He offered a share of his future earnings from his brand marketing company to a company called Fantex. This allowed people to invest in his future success.
Vernon's younger brother was Vontae Davis, who also played in the NFL as a cornerback. Sadly, Vontae passed away on April 1, 2024.
Media Appearances and Acting
Davis has appeared in various TV shows and movies.
- In 2013, he was in a music video for the song "Get Lo."
- In 2015, he appeared on Pretty Wild and Whose Line is it Anyway?.
- He was a judge on ABC's BattleBots in its second season.
- In July 2020, he hosted the reunion special for MTV's The Challenge: Total Madness.
- In September 2020, Davis competed on Dancing with the Stars. He danced with Peta Murgatroyd and was eliminated after six weeks.
- In April 2021, he hosted the reunion for The Challenge: Double Agents.
- In March and April 2022, Davis was a judge on Domino Masters on Fox.
- He starred in the crime thriller The Ritual Killer, released in March 2023. He played a character named "Randoku" alongside actors Morgan Freeman and Cole Hauser.
- In 2022, it was announced that Davis would star in the comedy film Plan B.
Business Ventures After Football
After his NFL career, Davis became very active in business. He has invested in many different industries.
- He was an early investor in SportsCastr, a live-streaming platform for sports commentary.
- In 2022, he became an ambassador and investor for JAXJOX, a smart home fitness company.
- Davis has also been involved in real estate. He helped develop a luxury townhouse project in Washington, D.C., and other housing projects.
- In professional sports, he is a part-owner of DC Power FC, a women’s soccer team. He also joined the ownership group of the Brisbane Bullets, a basketball team in Australia.
See also
In Spanish: Vernon Davis para niños
