In an exclusive interview with Heavy on 49ers, 49ers legend Vernon Davis discussed his thoughts on San Francisco’s upcoming matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round this weekend. Davis also discussed his transition from NFL superstar to Hollywood actor and entrepreneur in the last five years.
San Francisco has a tough draw in the first round as they’ll face the reigning Super Bowl champions on the road. Although Philadelphia has had trouble kickstarting it’s offense this season, they’ve continually proven to be a tough out in the playoffs under Nick Sirianni.
“They’re going to have to really understand what they’re up against,” Davis said to Heavy on 49ers. “Philly is a great team, they’ve been known to get to the playoffs and really go above and beyond. If the 49ers are going to have a chance to go to the Super Bowl this year, they’re going to have to take advantage of this game and start out strong.”
Limiting Saquon Barkley will be the key to igniting the defense on Sunday. If the Niners run defense limits Barkley and Jalen Hurts on the ground, Philly will have a tough time implementing their pass offense without a solid contingency plan in the run game.
Davis believes this Wild Card game could kickstart a deep run if the Niners are able to head into Philadelphia and escape with a win.
“If they get by Philly, they have a big shot to get back to the Super Bowl,” Davis said.
Davis Praises George Kittle and Other Current NFL Tight Ends
Davis was a catalyst for many 49ers teams during his 10 seasons with the team from 2006-2015, and played a large role in revolutionizing the tight end position in the NFL along with other legendary tight ends like Rob Gronkowski, Antonio Gates, and Tony Gonzalez.
Now, the tight end landscape is deeper than it’s ever been. Davis’ successor in San Francisco, George Kittle, has become a blueprint for the modern NFL tight end; a player who can create mismatches in the pass game but is also responsible as a pass blocker.
“George Kittle does a lot of great things, he does a lot of things right; from blocking to pass catching to pass protection, he just understands the game of football,” Davis said.
“You can tell he’s a football player, his IQ for the game is a lot better than what my IQ was,” Davis joked. “I think he’s just that type of player.”
Davis also spoke about the evolution of the position and his fascination with the landscape in the 2025 season.
“The only guys that I really found interesting and modeled my game after was Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates,” Davis said. “Now, you’re talking about Kyle Pitts, George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, it’s just wide open, the tight end position has really evolved. It started with the guys like Antonio Gates, and then when I came in the league it was myself, Delaney Walker, it just continues to keep evolving. I love how fascinating the tight end position has become.”
Davis Discusses Transition From NFL to Hollywood
Football fans know Davis from his illustrious career on the field, but his drive to continue his successful career has led him into the film business. Davis has recently appeared in films like “The Ritual Killer,” “A Day To Die,” and “Chariot,” among others. His work has put him in films with legendary actors like Morgan Freeman and Bruce Willis.
Now, Davis is getting into the production side of the movie business. His most recent venture is a short film, titled “City of Visions.” Here is Davis’ synopsis of the film:
“A film inspired by gentrification at the intersection of art, technology and community and the way our cities are evolving while so many dreams, histories and voices are being pushed to the margins. This film is about what gets erased, what fights to survive, and what it means to imagine a future without losing our soul.”
Davis opened up on what this passion project meant for him and his ability to tell stories previously unheard and bring them to light.
“The City of Visions represents togetherness, it represents understanding, being able to understand each other and relate to each other and work together in a space that’s not quite seen in the same manner,” Davis said.
“My goal is to extend a message, to extend understanding and give people different things to think about as they continue to navigate in life and make them feel good when they’re watching it, make sure they get something from it. As long as you’re able to get something from what you’re watching, that’s what it’s all about and that’s what I want to continue to do.”
City of Visions will be released worldwide in 2026.
Exclusive: NFL Legend Vernon Davis Discusses 49ers Playoff Chances