Former 49ers tight end Vernon Davis joined the 49ers “You’ve Got Mail” podcast presented by Delta Dental to discuss his creative endeavors after a 14-season NFL career, weigh in on team’s winning culture and answer fan-submitted questions.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
What's up, fateful Welcome to the forty nine Ers You've
Got Mail Podcasts presented by Delta Dental. I'm Lindsay Polaris.
Today I am joined by a very special guest for
an alumni edition of the pod. We have former forty
nine Ers tight end, Super Bowl fifty champion, actor, producer,
and newly published author Vernon Davis.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Did I get all those titles right there?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
You get it?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
As you know, this is the.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Quietest time of the year for most NFL teams. Most
of the off season workout programs are done. Players coaches
are sneaking in a little time away before everything gets
going again. As a former player, what do you remember
most about this time, the summer break right before training camp.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Well, it was something that I was always looking forward
to because you have an opportunity, opportunity to spend time
with your family, take care of the things that you
need to take care of, and.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Just handle things that you need to handle.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
But there was also an opportunity to continue to get better.
I never stopped training and never stopped working because I
was always looking forward to the season and having a
trying to have a great season both as a team
and individually. So this is definitely the time that I
would take to really make sure I can handle certain things.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Now that you're retired, it seems as if you have
no downtime. You have been full go as a producer, actor, artist,
and now a published author post playing career.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
What drew you to all these creative avenues.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
I feel like when I was a kid, I was
always interested in so many different things, and it probably
just transferred over as I continue to get older and
just figured the world out and I started to become
just fascinated with just the world of art. I was
(02:05):
a criminal I was a criminal justice major, but then
I switched over to become an art studio major. Then
from there, when I arrived in San Francisco, San Jose,
I opened up an art gallery and after the art gallery,
I took a class at the Shelton Theater of Art
downtown San Francisco, and that really that was the catalyst
for me to be able to tap into the different
(02:28):
different avenues of creativity from acting, television, film, just being
creative in general.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
And I didn't stop. I just continued to pursue it.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
How did you manage that balance of being a professional
football player but still, you know, maybe quietly not so quietly,
pursuing these other passions of yours.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Well, I feel like when you're playing football, whatever you're doing,
if it's.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
A craft or something that you're truly in love with
and you you have to be in order to be great,
you have to put the town.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
And that's how I felt about football.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
I didn't let anything take me away from what I
was trying to accomplish in football. But there's the time,
like we just talked about, there's those gaps in between
off season for OTAs and and.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Postseason.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
There's there's that space that you can really take time
to get better at another craft, right, but then when
football comes back into the equation, you.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Have to really make sure that you balanced the two.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
And know how to put certain things on hold, you
know what I mean. So you can you can still
give time and energy to certain things, but you always
want to focus on whatever it is that you're really
trying to accomplish, because you can't. It's hard to really
do both for a long period. For that period of
(03:48):
time its given. So as long as you have that
in mind, you know the direction.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
At what point did becoming an author end up on?
Your list of goals to accomplish.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Well, it never really being an author never really crossed
my mind, never really.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Crossed my mind.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
But I'm big on just taking advantage of today, and
I feel like, if tomorrow's I promise, I should really
leverage and make sure that I can bring into fruition
the things that I really want to happen for myself. So,
(04:27):
you know, a lot of people was coming to me
and they were saying, Hey, why.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Do you want to put a book out now?
Speaker 4 (04:32):
You should probably wait because there's a lot of things
that are going to happen in your life that you're.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Not going to expect.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
I was like, yeah, I understand that, but maybe I'll
do another book after that when that happened.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
But right now, I just want to follow my.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
Heart, my gut and give inspiration hope to those who
need it.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
That debut book, your memoir Playing Ball Life Lessons from
My Journey to the Super Bowl and Beyond, is to
release in mid August. So how long has the project
been in the works.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Oh, the project has been in the works for maybe
a year year and a half. It's definitely a tedious process,
and I say that because there's so many different things
that you have to do when you're writing.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
You have to go back into your memory book.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
And face some of the situations that you have to
face that you don't want to face, but you have to.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
You have to relive those moments.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Not only that, but you have to there's the editing,
there's the there's the.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Final draft, there's.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
The forwards, and you have to think about all the
people that you want to get thanks to. And my
most memorable experience when writing this when I was writing
this book was my experience with Mike Singletary. It was
supposed to be a forward, but it ended up being
an introduction. He was very It was amazing just hearing
from him. I haven't heard from him in a while,
(05:58):
but to hear his side of the story of some
of the things, the challenges and the great times moments
that we had together.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
It was great to hear and see, especially see it
come about in the book.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
That press conference with Mike Singletary was kind of infamous
in its time, but when you look at it with
the lens of you know, a decade later, more than
a decade later, how does that situation play out a
little differently now in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Yeah, I think I've talked about it so much.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
I've talked about it.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Yeah, a lot of people remember it, and then there's
some people that, Well, there's people who remember it vividly,
and then there's some people who vaguely remember, but when
you bring it back into the forefront, they're.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Like, oh, yeah, I remember that. I remember that.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
But that moment was a special moment for me because
every young athlete coming into any situation, and for me
it was coming into the NFL, I needed that father figure.
I needed that that mentor, and Mike Singletary was that
mentor for me, and I did see a significance improvement
in my play and my ability to be able to
(07:08):
help lead the team after we had after we had
that moment, that moment, and I'm very related to have
had that because I feel like it was that was
(07:29):
the that was something that really helped me find myself and.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
I can always relive it.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
I can go back to that moment, and I was
able to take something from it.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
And what I took from that is how to be
able to.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Become self blessed right, And that's what That's what I
take with me and everything that I do in business
and acting, just everything.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
So I'm very grateful for that moment.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
That's definitely one of the big moments that is more
public in your career. But as you mentioned, you're re
examining a fourteen year NFL journey as you were walking
down memory lane, what else did you rediscover?
Speaker 2 (08:16):
What other big moments?
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Yeah, I think I think just reliving those moments just
just take me back to just the glory days of
you know, during my time with the forty nine ers,
because you go from well not just the glory days,
but the moments where we struggled so much. I mean,
we were just trying to find a way to be
(08:42):
able to win, and we just we just didn't get there.
But we had faith. We knew that at some point
we were going to have a breakthrough. And that breakthrough
came when our coach Harbaugh came on board. And I
remember when we played the same and that catch I
made to catch three. Some call it the burning posts,
(09:04):
but those tiers that I shared were those were the tears.
Those were tiers of joy.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
You know, all the.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
Sacrifice, the hard work, the dedication being drafted and coming
into the NFL and go and having the moments with
coach Singretary, losing so many games and.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Trying to figure it out.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
But that moment, that catch, that game winning catch, was
what it was about, you know it was It was
just a great feeling being able to find a way,
not just for me, but for the fans, for the
for the for the organization, for my family. It just
(09:41):
meant so much. So that's what those tears are. So
it made me go back to those those days and
just reminiscing, reminiscing and just just ponder on those special
moments for.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Our viewers and listeners. It may not have seen that
in real time. It was third and three four, two
seconds left on the clock. Alex Smith throws you a ball,
catch it in the end zone. Where does that catch
three rank in your list of memorable plays?
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (10:10):
The catree, Oh the castree is probably the most memorable
moment that I've ever had. I'm taking that with me
for the rest of my life. I'm taking it to
my grave, like I love it.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
It's just it's just such a highlight, major highlight of
my life, and it's something that I always talk about
and share.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
I share it with my kids.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
They'll relive that moment and they'll use it as motivation
for themselves.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
So it's a great thing.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Did you get to keep the game ball from that?
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (10:42):
I got the game ball. I got everything. I've got
highlights in the basement.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
I got it all. Now I got all kinds of stuff.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Love that.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Just one more question about playball. It's got a little
bit of everything, right, reflection, advice, it's a little bit
of a tell all. What's one thing that you hope
readers walk away with after finishing your book.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Well, I hope readers see that it wasn't even though
I was, even though I was at the top of
Even though I was, I did some great things in football, right,
but all there was also challenges that I had to
face a lot of challenges, not just not just having
(11:26):
to get better, right, but there was also moments in
my life where I felt like I was.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I just couldn't do it anymore.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Right, There's many moments in the book where I just
couldn't do it anymore. But I was able to stand
strong and keep my faith in and believe in myself.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Like, without belief, you have nothing.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
And I want people to know that, Like, if you
don't believe in yourself, and you don't have just a
little bit of faith, you're not going to succeed in anything.
And a lot of people fall short because they lose that.
And I want them to see that who I am,
I'm just like them. There's no difference between human beings
(12:07):
when it comes to being low and trying to get
back to that high point. So we all found ourselves
there at some moment, some point in time, but we
all need the motivation. And that's what my book is
all about, showing them that I'm just a normal human being,
just like them.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Kind of working in tandem with your personal story, was
like you mentioned this build up for the Niners from
the late two thousands to the twenty tens. How did
that group really come together in twenty eleven, twenty twelve,
twenty thirteen to have that heyday of that decade.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Yeah, if you look back, like a lot of the
players that we had when we were losing, when I
first came in in two thousand and six, we had
some of the same players, Like there's Patrick Willis, Joe
Staley and my Brooks, Justin Smith, Frank Gore. I mean,
I can keep on name it, but a lot of
those players were still there. I think we just what
happened was is when you find there's different ways coaches
(13:10):
have different ways of being able to get to the
players and get them to put everything in there one
hundred and ten percent right, and they create an environment,
a culture where we're expected to do the right thing
all the time. We're expected to be a family, we're
expected to hold each other accountable, right, And sometimes you
(13:32):
need that conductor and a coach to change the narrative
and to change like the perspective of what we're trying
to do and what we're trying to accomplish. And when
that happens, all of the players, I mean, we had
some great players, but unless you have those little details
(13:54):
and those little piece, those little fun pieces, you can't
tell your story and the way you want to want
to tell it right. So when that happened, we were
able to put it all together and become that team
that we were destined to be.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
That's what you saw.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
You talk about that culture being established, that really big
attention to detail. I'd argue that's very similar to what's
currently happening at the Niners. What similarities do you see
between those amazing teams of the early twenty tens to
really the last five years in recent history of this organization.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Yeah, So the teams that I see right now, I mean,
these guys you can tell that they're family, that they're
playing together, they're one, they're happy, they're excited to get.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Up in the morning go into that building.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
Like it's a different story when you wake up in
the morning, you don't want to go into go to work.
Like these guys there, you could tell they want to
go to work, they want to put the time in
to be a great team.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
I mean, you can see it. You know.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
I played on teams where I mean you walk, I
mean it was like you just didn't want to be there.
I mean, the energy was just so negative. But these
guys that they're happy, they're excited, and they're playing to win,
and they're taking it one day at a time. And
that's and that's what you want. That's what I see
out of these guys. That's why they're having success, that's
(15:18):
why they're being consistent. And the organization, the upper management there,
they're perfect. They're perfect, they're they're line perfectly. Jay York
did a wonderful thing putting all those those different, putting
all the different people together to make something whole.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
So I love it.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Last couple of years in particular, have been very good
for the forty nine ers offense, top five offense in
the league back to back years. What else do you
see ahead of them for twenty twenty four. In order
to continue to evolve and stay at.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
The top, I think you don't think. I don't. I
don't think you changed.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
I mean, of course you always want to change and evolve,
But I mean whatever it is that they're doing and
they've been doing, it's there.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
It's just right. So all they need to do is
just build on what they have.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Like if they can do that, guys can have the
same attitude, same approach, and continue to stay selfless and
play as a team offensively, defensively, special teams. I think
they can really continue to pull some great things off,
especially when it comes to to winning a championship. I
mean they've been very close numerous times. So it's all
(16:33):
about just adding bringing more players in playmakers to add
to what they already have. I mean, they got a
great nucleus. Just continue to stay consistent and play together
play to win.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
One of those key playmakers happens to be a tight end.
Where's your former number eighty five, George Kittle? Just how
proud are you to see just that tight end position
continuing to be prominent in you know, this twenty twenty
era and just another star really putting the Niners on
the map for great tight ends.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Yeah, I love George.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
I think you know, I've spent a great deal of
time with George and he's just a He's a wonderful
human being. I think he's the He's the ultimate pro
just in the way that he when I when I
look at players, I look at you know. You know,
I played fourteen years and I never had surgery. I've
always taken care of my body and that's the biggest
thing that like, that's that's how you achieve an ample
(17:30):
amount of success, is when you're able to stay on
the field and stay away from the doctor, right, And
he's doing that. I mean he does yoga with his dad.
I mean, he's always he's big about taking care of
When I'm talking to him, like, wow, this guy's just
like me. He's doing everything that I did well and more.
I Mean he's big on taking care of his pipe.
(17:51):
And that's why he's having a success that he's having.
He understands the importance of self care right when it
comes to body and being able to be there for
the team. So, you know, I'm proud of them, happy
for them, and I wishing nothing but the best. He's
doing a heck of a job.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
He's the head of a tight end room that got
a decent amount of restructure the soft season, reagent additions
and undrafted for agents have been added. What's the key
in bringing a really young new group together like that
when you've got one strong better at anchor.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Yeah, I mean it.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Makes it easier when you have a strong anchor just
from the tight end tight end standpoint, or any position,
because the younger guys can come in they have something
to look look to. It costs a lot of It
would cost a lot of money for someone to be
able to get information and pick the brains of a
player like that. Right, That's that's expensive. So they have
(18:50):
something that's right there in front of them. I mean,
it's low hanging fruit. So why not absorb that information?
Why not use that to really add to your craft
and continue to get better. It's great, you know, and
those younger guys.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
They're the future.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
So as George continues to grow and as he gets
older and he winds down on his career, those guys
can step in and feel the board. But it's gonna
be a huge boy for them to feel because you know,
he's a heck of a player.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Like I said before, Vernon, before we get to our
fans submitted questions, We've got a word from our sponsor, Niners.
Protect your teeth and your budget with dental plans from
Delta Dental. Get fumble free dental coverage today. So, Vernon,
We've got a few fan submitted questions for you, and
that's kind of how we do this last portion of
the podcast. This one's from Carlos Hutchinson. He said, so,
(19:41):
how did you adjust to your first year out of
the league after a fourteen season career?
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Yeah, my first year? So what I did?
Speaker 4 (19:50):
I was already I was pretty much prepared for some
of the things that I wanted to do, and which
was having an acting career. I knew right right away
the direction that I wanted to go. So I was
as soon as I retired and I knew I was
walking away, I stepped right into the next thing. So
(20:12):
I think it's I think it's imperative to know to
do the things that you want to do. Like I
was talking about doing the off season on that space,
that you have to start doing those things because you
can roll right into it when you're done playing. Have
something that you know you could be passionate about, or
something that you want to do, so that you don't
have to have to play a game of guessing, Okay,
(20:32):
what do I do next?
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Stay busy, stay right, stay busy.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
This one's from Janet and Santa Clara. How great is
it to see your former teammate Patrick Willis set to
enter the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
I'm so excited for Patrick. Patrick deserves it. Playing with
that guy for so many years. It's just to see
the hard work and dedication he put into the football field,
and too just being great. It's an honor to be
able to say that I was his teammate. So I'm
extremely happy for he. If anybody deserves it, he deserves
(21:09):
it for sure.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
And burning your first year of eligibility is coming up
in a year, So what would the significance of a nomination.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Be to you? Yeah, being nominated for Hall of fame.
It's cool.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
I mean you, you know, I just think it's it's everyone,
well not everyone, but it's just one of those things,
being recognized for your work that you put in.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
It's always great.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
And my grandmother used to tell me all the time,
she said, always be grateful for the little things. So
whether I get in or not, it's always you always
be thankful for those things because bigger things will always
come for you.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
And whatever it is.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
But it's just, you know, I'm related to be able
to be in that consideration.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Forty nine ers talk had one and this is the
last one. Who is your favorite player on the current roster?
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Oh? My favorite player? I'm gonna have to say, George
kill That's my guy. I like people. I like people.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
I like Deepo, Samrews though he's a he's ad awesome playmaker.
Trip Williams is my guy because we played in Washington together.
But I love Trent, but George is my guy.
Speaker 5 (22:21):
Is there anybody on the defensive side of the ball
you would hate going up against? Yeah there's a few, probably.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
Oh yeah, there's a lot of I don't pray Boson.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah that's a tough one.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Yeah, Yeah, that's a tough. I don't want to go
against him. Yeah, I'm not going against that guy. Man,
that guy. Wow, I didn't like going up against Yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
I didn't like going up against those guys on the
on the front line like that.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
That was Yeah, something about those guys. They gotta good tough.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Well, thank you, thanks so much for your time.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Vernon faithful to be featured in the next episode of
The forty nine Ers.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
You've Got Mail Podcasts presented by Delta Dental.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Submit your questions to forty nine Ers YouTube community page,
and don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on Apple
Podcasts and Spotify so you can be
Speaker 2 (23:16):
The first to listen to our latest episodes.
What's up, fateful Welcome to the forty nine Ers You've
Got Mail Podcasts presented by Delta Dental. I'm Lindsay Polaris.
Today I am joined by a very special guest for
an alumni edition of the pod. We have former forty
nine Ers tight end, Super Bowl fifty champion, actor, producer,
and newly published author Vernon Davis.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Did I get all those titles right there?
Speaker 3 (00:29):
You get it?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
As you know, this is the.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Quietest time of the year for most NFL teams. Most
of the off season workout programs are done. Players coaches
are sneaking in a little time away before everything gets
going again. As a former player, what do you remember
most about this time, the summer break right before training camp.
Speaker 4 (00:50):
Well, it was something that I was always looking forward
to because you have an opportunity, opportunity to spend time
with your family, take care of the things that you
need to take care of, and.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Just handle things that you need to handle.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
But there was also an opportunity to continue to get better.
I never stopped training and never stopped working because I
was always looking forward to the season and having a
trying to have a great season both as a team
and individually. So this is definitely the time that I
would take to really make sure I can handle certain things.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Now that you're retired, it seems as if you have
no downtime. You have been full go as a producer, actor, artist,
and now a published author post playing career.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
What drew you to all these creative avenues.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
I feel like when I was a kid, I was
always interested in so many different things, and it probably
just transferred over as I continue to get older and
just figured the world out and I started to become
just fascinated with just the world of art. I was
(02:05):
a criminal I was a criminal justice major, but then
I switched over to become an art studio major. Then
from there, when I arrived in San Francisco, San Jose,
I opened up an art gallery and after the art gallery,
I took a class at the Shelton Theater of Art
downtown San Francisco, and that really that was the catalyst
for me to be able to tap into the different
(02:28):
different avenues of creativity from acting, television, film, just being
creative in general.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
And I didn't stop. I just continued to pursue it.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
How did you manage that balance of being a professional
football player but still, you know, maybe quietly not so quietly,
pursuing these other passions of yours.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Well, I feel like when you're playing football, whatever you're doing,
if it's.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
A craft or something that you're truly in love with
and you you have to be in order to be great,
you have to put the town.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
And that's how I felt about football.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
I didn't let anything take me away from what I
was trying to accomplish in football. But there's the time,
like we just talked about, there's those gaps in between
off season for OTAs and and.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
Postseason.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
There's there's that space that you can really take time
to get better at another craft, right, but then when
football comes back into the equation, you.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Have to really make sure that you balanced the two.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
And know how to put certain things on hold, you
know what I mean. So you can you can still
give time and energy to certain things, but you always
want to focus on whatever it is that you're really
trying to accomplish, because you can't. It's hard to really
do both for a long period. For that period of
(03:48):
time its given. So as long as you have that
in mind, you know the direction.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
At what point did becoming an author end up on?
Your list of goals to accomplish.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Well, it never really being an author never really crossed
my mind, never really.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Crossed my mind.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
But I'm big on just taking advantage of today, and
I feel like, if tomorrow's I promise, I should really
leverage and make sure that I can bring into fruition
the things that I really want to happen for myself. So,
(04:27):
you know, a lot of people was coming to me
and they were saying, Hey, why.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Do you want to put a book out now?
Speaker 4 (04:32):
You should probably wait because there's a lot of things
that are going to happen in your life that you're.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Not going to expect.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
I was like, yeah, I understand that, but maybe I'll
do another book after that when that happened.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
But right now, I just want to follow my.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
Heart, my gut and give inspiration hope to those who
need it.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
That debut book, your memoir Playing Ball Life Lessons from
My Journey to the Super Bowl and Beyond, is to
release in mid August. So how long has the project
been in the works.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Oh, the project has been in the works for maybe
a year year and a half. It's definitely a tedious process,
and I say that because there's so many different things
that you have to do when you're writing.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
You have to go back into your memory book.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
And face some of the situations that you have to
face that you don't want to face, but you have to.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
You have to relive those moments.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Not only that, but you have to there's the editing,
there's the there's the.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Final draft, there's.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
The forwards, and you have to think about all the
people that you want to get thanks to. And my
most memorable experience when writing this when I was writing
this book was my experience with Mike Singletary. It was
supposed to be a forward, but it ended up being
an introduction. He was very It was amazing just hearing
from him. I haven't heard from him in a while,
(05:58):
but to hear his side of the story of some
of the things, the challenges and the great times moments
that we had together.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
It was great to hear and see, especially see it
come about in the book.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
That press conference with Mike Singletary was kind of infamous
in its time, but when you look at it with
the lens of you know, a decade later, more than
a decade later, how does that situation play out a
little differently now in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Yeah, I think I've talked about it so much.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
I've talked about it.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Yeah, a lot of people remember it, and then there's
some people that, Well, there's people who remember it vividly,
and then there's some people who vaguely remember, but when
you bring it back into the forefront, they're.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Like, oh, yeah, I remember that. I remember that.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
But that moment was a special moment for me because
every young athlete coming into any situation, and for me
it was coming into the NFL, I needed that father figure.
I needed that that mentor, and Mike Singletary was that
mentor for me, and I did see a significance improvement
in my play and my ability to be able to
(07:08):
help lead the team after we had after we had
that moment, that moment, and I'm very related to have
had that because I feel like it was that was
(07:29):
the that was something that really helped me find myself and.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
I can always relive it.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
I can go back to that moment, and I was
able to take something from it.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
And what I took from that is how to be
able to.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Become self blessed right, And that's what That's what I
take with me and everything that I do in business
and acting, just everything.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
So I'm very grateful for that moment.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
That's definitely one of the big moments that is more
public in your career. But as you mentioned, you're re
examining a fourteen year NFL journey as you were walking
down memory lane, what else did you rediscover?
Speaker 2 (08:16):
What other big moments?
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Yeah, I think I think just reliving those moments just
just take me back to just the glory days of
you know, during my time with the forty nine ers,
because you go from well not just the glory days,
but the moments where we struggled so much. I mean,
we were just trying to find a way to be
(08:42):
able to win, and we just we just didn't get there.
But we had faith. We knew that at some point
we were going to have a breakthrough. And that breakthrough
came when our coach Harbaugh came on board. And I
remember when we played the same and that catch I
made to catch three. Some call it the burning posts,
(09:04):
but those tiers that I shared were those were the tears.
Those were tiers of joy.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
You know, all the.
Speaker 4 (09:10):
Sacrifice, the hard work, the dedication being drafted and coming
into the NFL and go and having the moments with
coach Singretary, losing so many games and.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Trying to figure it out.
Speaker 4 (09:19):
But that moment, that catch, that game winning catch, was
what it was about, you know it was It was
just a great feeling being able to find a way,
not just for me, but for the fans, for the
for the for the organization, for my family. It just
(09:41):
meant so much. So that's what those tears are. So
it made me go back to those those days and
just reminiscing, reminiscing and just just ponder on those special
moments for.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Our viewers and listeners. It may not have seen that
in real time. It was third and three four, two
seconds left on the clock. Alex Smith throws you a ball,
catch it in the end zone. Where does that catch
three rank in your list of memorable plays?
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (10:10):
The catree, Oh the castree is probably the most memorable
moment that I've ever had. I'm taking that with me
for the rest of my life. I'm taking it to
my grave, like I love it.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (10:26):
It's just it's just such a highlight, major highlight of
my life, and it's something that I always talk about
and share.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
I share it with my kids.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
They'll relive that moment and they'll use it as motivation
for themselves.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
So it's a great thing.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Did you get to keep the game ball from that?
Speaker 3 (10:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (10:42):
I got the game ball. I got everything. I've got
highlights in the basement.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
I got it all. Now I got all kinds of stuff.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Love that.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Just one more question about playball. It's got a little
bit of everything, right, reflection, advice, it's a little bit
of a tell all. What's one thing that you hope
readers walk away with after finishing your book.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
Well, I hope readers see that it wasn't even though
I was, even though I was at the top of
Even though I was, I did some great things in football, right,
but all there was also challenges that I had to
face a lot of challenges, not just not just having
(11:26):
to get better, right, but there was also moments in
my life where I felt like I was.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
I just couldn't do it anymore.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
Right, There's many moments in the book where I just
couldn't do it anymore. But I was able to stand
strong and keep my faith in and believe in myself.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
Like, without belief, you have nothing.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
And I want people to know that, Like, if you
don't believe in yourself, and you don't have just a
little bit of faith, you're not going to succeed in anything.
And a lot of people fall short because they lose that.
And I want them to see that who I am,
I'm just like them. There's no difference between human beings
(12:07):
when it comes to being low and trying to get
back to that high point. So we all found ourselves
there at some moment, some point in time, but we
all need the motivation. And that's what my book is
all about, showing them that I'm just a normal human being,
just like them.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
Kind of working in tandem with your personal story, was
like you mentioned this build up for the Niners from
the late two thousands to the twenty tens. How did
that group really come together in twenty eleven, twenty twelve,
twenty thirteen to have that heyday of that decade.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Yeah, if you look back, like a lot of the
players that we had when we were losing, when I
first came in in two thousand and six, we had
some of the same players, Like there's Patrick Willis, Joe
Staley and my Brooks, Justin Smith, Frank Gore. I mean,
I can keep on name it, but a lot of
those players were still there. I think we just what
happened was is when you find there's different ways coaches
(13:10):
have different ways of being able to get to the
players and get them to put everything in there one
hundred and ten percent right, and they create an environment,
a culture where we're expected to do the right thing
all the time. We're expected to be a family, we're
expected to hold each other accountable, right, And sometimes you
(13:32):
need that conductor and a coach to change the narrative
and to change like the perspective of what we're trying
to do and what we're trying to accomplish. And when
that happens, all of the players, I mean, we had
some great players, but unless you have those little details
(13:54):
and those little piece, those little fun pieces, you can't
tell your story and the way you want to want
to tell it right. So when that happened, we were
able to put it all together and become that team
that we were destined to be.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
That's what you saw.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
You talk about that culture being established, that really big
attention to detail. I'd argue that's very similar to what's
currently happening at the Niners. What similarities do you see
between those amazing teams of the early twenty tens to
really the last five years in recent history of this organization.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
Yeah, So the teams that I see right now, I mean,
these guys you can tell that they're family, that they're
playing together, they're one, they're happy, they're excited to get.
Speaker 3 (14:42):
Up in the morning go into that building.
Speaker 4 (14:43):
Like it's a different story when you wake up in
the morning, you don't want to go into go to work.
Like these guys there, you could tell they want to
go to work, they want to put the time in
to be a great team.
Speaker 3 (14:55):
I mean, you can see it. You know.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
I played on teams where I mean you walk, I
mean it was like you just didn't want to be there.
I mean, the energy was just so negative. But these
guys that they're happy, they're excited, and they're playing to win,
and they're taking it one day at a time. And
that's and that's what you want. That's what I see
out of these guys. That's why they're having success, that's
(15:18):
why they're being consistent. And the organization, the upper management there,
they're perfect. They're perfect, they're they're line perfectly. Jay York
did a wonderful thing putting all those those different, putting
all the different people together to make something whole.
Speaker 3 (15:39):
So I love it.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Last couple of years in particular, have been very good
for the forty nine ers offense, top five offense in
the league back to back years. What else do you
see ahead of them for twenty twenty four. In order
to continue to evolve and stay at.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
The top, I think you don't think. I don't. I
don't think you changed.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
I mean, of course you always want to change and evolve,
But I mean whatever it is that they're doing and
they've been doing, it's there.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
It's just right. So all they need to do is
just build on what they have.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Like if they can do that, guys can have the
same attitude, same approach, and continue to stay selfless and
play as a team offensively, defensively, special teams. I think
they can really continue to pull some great things off,
especially when it comes to to winning a championship. I
mean they've been very close numerous times. So it's all
(16:33):
about just adding bringing more players in playmakers to add
to what they already have. I mean, they got a
great nucleus. Just continue to stay consistent and play together
play to win.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
One of those key playmakers happens to be a tight end.
Where's your former number eighty five, George Kittle? Just how
proud are you to see just that tight end position
continuing to be prominent in you know, this twenty twenty
era and just another star really putting the Niners on
the map for great tight ends.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Yeah, I love George.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
I think you know, I've spent a great deal of
time with George and he's just a He's a wonderful
human being. I think he's the He's the ultimate pro
just in the way that he when I when I
look at players, I look at you know. You know,
I played fourteen years and I never had surgery. I've
always taken care of my body and that's the biggest
thing that like, that's that's how you achieve an ample
(17:30):
amount of success, is when you're able to stay on
the field and stay away from the doctor, right, And
he's doing that. I mean he does yoga with his dad.
I mean, he's always he's big about taking care of
When I'm talking to him, like, wow, this guy's just
like me. He's doing everything that I did well and more.
I Mean he's big on taking care of his pipe.
(17:51):
And that's why he's having a success that he's having.
He understands the importance of self care right when it
comes to body and being able to be there for
the team. So, you know, I'm proud of them, happy
for them, and I wishing nothing but the best. He's
doing a heck of a job.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
He's the head of a tight end room that got
a decent amount of restructure the soft season, reagent additions
and undrafted for agents have been added. What's the key
in bringing a really young new group together like that
when you've got one strong better at anchor.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
Yeah, I mean it.
Speaker 4 (18:30):
Makes it easier when you have a strong anchor just
from the tight end tight end standpoint, or any position,
because the younger guys can come in they have something
to look look to. It costs a lot of It
would cost a lot of money for someone to be
able to get information and pick the brains of a
player like that. Right, That's that's expensive. So they have
(18:50):
something that's right there in front of them. I mean,
it's low hanging fruit. So why not absorb that information?
Why not use that to really add to your craft
and continue to get better. It's great, you know, and
those younger guys.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
They're the future.
Speaker 4 (19:04):
So as George continues to grow and as he gets
older and he winds down on his career, those guys
can step in and feel the board. But it's gonna
be a huge boy for them to feel because you know,
he's a heck of a player.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Like I said before, Vernon, before we get to our
fans submitted questions, We've got a word from our sponsor, Niners.
Protect your teeth and your budget with dental plans from
Delta Dental. Get fumble free dental coverage today. So, Vernon,
We've got a few fan submitted questions for you, and
that's kind of how we do this last portion of
the podcast. This one's from Carlos Hutchinson. He said, so,
(19:41):
how did you adjust to your first year out of
the league after a fourteen season career?
Speaker 3 (19:48):
Yeah, my first year? So what I did?
Speaker 4 (19:50):
I was already I was pretty much prepared for some
of the things that I wanted to do, and which
was having an acting career. I knew right right away
the direction that I wanted to go. So I was
as soon as I retired and I knew I was
walking away, I stepped right into the next thing. So
(20:12):
I think it's I think it's imperative to know to
do the things that you want to do. Like I
was talking about doing the off season on that space,
that you have to start doing those things because you
can roll right into it when you're done playing. Have
something that you know you could be passionate about, or
something that you want to do, so that you don't
have to have to play a game of guessing, Okay,
(20:32):
what do I do next?
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Stay busy, stay right, stay busy.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
That's right, that's right.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
This one's from Janet and Santa Clara. How great is
it to see your former teammate Patrick Willis set to
enter the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 4 (20:47):
I'm so excited for Patrick. Patrick deserves it. Playing with
that guy for so many years. It's just to see
the hard work and dedication he put into the football field,
and too just being great. It's an honor to be
able to say that I was his teammate. So I'm
extremely happy for he. If anybody deserves it, he deserves
(21:09):
it for sure.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
And burning your first year of eligibility is coming up
in a year, So what would the significance of a nomination.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Be to you? Yeah, being nominated for Hall of fame.
It's cool.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
I mean you, you know, I just think it's it's everyone,
well not everyone, but it's just one of those things,
being recognized for your work that you put in.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
It's always great.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
And my grandmother used to tell me all the time,
she said, always be grateful for the little things. So
whether I get in or not, it's always you always
be thankful for those things because bigger things will always
come for you.
Speaker 3 (21:49):
And whatever it is.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
But it's just, you know, I'm related to be able
to be in that consideration.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
Forty nine ers talk had one and this is the
last one. Who is your favorite player on the current roster?
Speaker 3 (22:04):
Oh? My favorite player? I'm gonna have to say, George
kill That's my guy. I like people. I like people.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
I like Deepo, Samrews though he's a he's ad awesome playmaker.
Trip Williams is my guy because we played in Washington together.
But I love Trent, but George is my guy.
Speaker 5 (22:21):
Is there anybody on the defensive side of the ball
you would hate going up against? Yeah there's a few, probably.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
Oh yeah, there's a lot of I don't pray Boson.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Yeah that's a tough one.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
Yeah, Yeah, that's a tough. I don't want to go
against him. Yeah, I'm not going against that guy. Man,
that guy. Wow, I didn't like going up against Yeah.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
I didn't like going up against those guys on the
on the front line like that.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
That was Yeah, something about those guys. They gotta good tough.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
Well, thank you, thanks so much for your time.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Vernon faithful to be featured in the next episode of
The forty nine Ers.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
You've Got Mail Podcasts presented by Delta Dental.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
Submit your questions to forty nine Ers YouTube community page,
and don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on Apple
Podcasts and Spotify so you can be
Speaker 2 (23:16):
The first to listen to our latest episodes.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com