Vernon Davis life and biography

Vernon Davis enjoyed one of the most prolific seasons by an NFL tight end in recent history, a campaign that landed him a starting role in the 2010 Pro Bowl. By posting 13 receiving TDs in 2009, he tied the NFL record for most TDs in a season by a tight end (TE Antonio Gates - 13 TDs in 2004). Davis’ TD recepts. also were tied for the most in the NFL with Patriots WR Randy Moss and Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald, making him the first tight end in the Super Bowl era to lead (or tie for the lead) league in TD recepts. He set new single-season career highs with 78 recepts., 965 rec. yds. and 13 TDs, as well as single-game highs in recepts. (10) and TDs (3). Davis was named a team captain by head coach Mike Singletary at the beginning of the 2009 season for his hard work and dedication.

TRANSACTIONS:
Originally the first of two 1st-round (6th pick overall) draft choice by SF in 2006.

GOLDMINE:
•Named an honorary captain for the USA Curling Team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
•Who said athletes and the arts don’t mix? Vernon brought his football and artistic talents together when he took part in the NFL Players Association and NFL Retired Players Association’s Smocks and Jocks event at Super Bowl XLI in South Florida. The annual event unites retired and active NFL players to auction off their own original artistic works for charity. Vernon entered a piece called “Kissing Him,” which was displayed and auctioned off prior to the Super Bowl. Vernon switched his original major in college, criminal jus­tice, to art studio so he could pursue his passion of art.
•Vernon’s younger brother, Vontae, was selected in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
•Ran a 4.38 in the 40-yd. dash at the 2006 NFL Combine.

AWARDS & HONORS:
2009: NFC Pro Bowl, Len Eshmont Award

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
•Set new single-season career highs with 78 recepts., 965 receiving yds. and 13 TD recepts. in 2009. He was one of only two tight ends to lead their team in all three categories (TE Kellen Winlsow, TB). His receiving yds. and TD totals were both single-season records among 49ers tight ends all-time.
•In 2009, his 13 TD recepts. tied the NFL record for most in a season by a tight end (TE Antonio Gates - 13 TDs in 2004).
•His 13 TD recepts. in 2009 tied for the most in the NFL with Patriots WR Randy Moss and Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald. He became the first tight end in the Super Bowl era to lead (or tie for the lead) league in TD recepts.
•Davis’ totaled three 100-yd receiving games in 2009, which tied him with Chargers TE Antonio Gates, Cowboys TE Jason Witten and Eagles TE Brent Celek for the most 100-yd receiving games by a TE in 2009.
•Davis’ 965 receiving yds. in 2009 were the most by a 49er in a single season since WR Terrell Owens (1,102 rec. yds. in 2003).
•Scored on his first ever NFL TD as a rookie in the season-opener at Arz. (9/10).

2009:
•Set new single-season career highs with 78 recepts., 965 receiving yds. and 13 TD recepts. He was one of only two tight ends to lead their team in all three categories (TE Kellen Winlsow, TB). His rec. yards and TDs totals were both single-season records among 49ers tight ends all-time.
•His 13 TD recepts. tied the NFL record for most in a season by a tight end (TE Antonio Gates - 13 TDs in 2004).
•His 13 TD recepts. in 2009 tied for the most in the NFL with Patriots WR Randy Moss and Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald. He became the first tight end in the Super Bowl era to lead (or tie for the lead) league in TD recepts.
•Ranked 5th in the NFL (3rd in NFC) among TEs with 78 recepts. and 965 receiving yds. Davis’ totalled three 100-yd. receiving games, which tied him with SD TE Antonio Gates, Dal. TE Jason Witten and Phi. TE Brent Celek for the most 100-yd. rec. games by a tight end in 2009.
•Davis’ 965 receiving yds. were the most by a 49er in a single season since WR Terrell Owens (1,102 rec. yds. in 2003).
•Ranked t-7th in the NFL and t-2nd in the NFC in scoring (78 points).
•Davis notched three, 100-yd. receiving games, marking the most by a 49er in a season since WR Brandon Lloyd in 2005.
•Davis and RB Frank Gore (13 TDs - 10 rus. and 3 rec.) became just the second set of 49er teammates to each have at least 13 TDs in a season. In 1995, WR Jerry Rice had 17 TDs and RB Derek Loville registered 13 TDs.
•Earned the 2009 Ozzie Newsome Award from ProFootballTalk.com for best tight end in the NFL.
•Posted 96 yds. and 2 TDs at Min. (9/27), and was on the receiving end of a 24-yd. strike from QB Shaun Hill in the 4th qtr. that gave the 49ers a 24-20 lead.
•Logged 7 recepts. for 93 yds. and a career-high 3 TDs (all in the 2nd half) at Hou. (10/25). Davis became the first tight end in 49ers history to register 3 TD recepts. in a game.
•Established a career-high 10 recepts. and then career-high 102 receiv­ing yds. vs. Ten. (11/8). It marked Davis’ first career 100-yd. game. His 10-catch performance marked only the 3rd time in franchise history that a tight end registered 10 recepts. or more in a game. TE Eric Johnson regis­tered 13 recepts. vs. Arz. (10/10/04), and 10 recepts. vs. StL (10/3/04). Davis became the first 49ers tight end to notch 100 yards receiving since TE Eric Johnson recorded 162 yds. vs. Arz. (10/10/04).
•Notched 6 recepts. for 108 yds. and one TD at GB (11/22).
•Set the franchise record for most TDs by a tight end in a single season on a 33-yd. TD recept. at Sea. (12/6). Finished the day with 6 recepts. for a career-high 111 yds. and one TD.
•Recorded his 11th TD of the season on a 5-yd. pass from QB Alex Smith vs. Arz. (12/14). He also tied the 49ers tight end record with his 4th consecutive game with a TD. He joined TE Ted Kwalick (11/12/72 through 12/4/72) as the only 49ers tight ends to accomplish the feat.
•Tied the NFL record for TD receptions by a tight end in a single season at StL (1/3). Davis’ career-long 73-yd.TD rec. in the 4th qtr. tied TE Antonio Gates’ record (13 TDs in 2004).

2008:
•Ranked 3rd on team with 31 catches for 358 yds. to go along with 2 TDs as he was named a Pro Bowl alternate.
•Posted a 57-yd. catch vs. Phi. (10/12) and finished day with 6 recepts. for 75 yds.
•Caught first TD pass of season at Arz. (11/10) on a 3rd-and-10 play in 2nd qtr. to give 49ers a 21-13 lead.
•Registered second TD recept. of season on a 2-yd. pass from QB Shaun Hill vs. StL (11/16).

2007:
•Recorded then-career-highs in recepts. (52), receiving yds. (509) and TD recepts. (4).
•Posted 4 recepts. for 56 yds. at Pit. (9/23) before suffering a partial tear of his right MCL in 3rd qtr. and did not return.
•Caught a career-high 7 passes for 77 yds. at Atl. (11/4).
•Recorded 6 recepts. for 45 yds. and a TD in an OT victory at Arz. (11/25).

2006:
•Posted 20 catches for 265 yds. with 3 TDs, despite being inactive for 6 con­tests with a cracked fibula.
•In first career start, caught 5 passes for 37 yds. and a TD at Arz. (9/10). His 31-yd. TD came on his first NFL touch.
•Recorded 3 recepts. for 74 yds., including a 52-yd. TD catch vs. GB (12/10).

COLLEGE:
•Ranks t-17th in school history in recepts. (83), 12th in receiving yds. (1,371) and t-13th in TD recepts. (9), as he lined up at fullback, H-back and flanker at Maryland. Started every game as a junior, leading team with 51 recepts. and the conference with 871 rec. yds. (17.1 avg.). Was a consensus first-team All-America and All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection. Also chosen as a finalist for the Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end, in ad­dition to earning consensus All-America honors, becoming the first Mary­land offensive player since 1955 (center Bob Pellegrini) to be named to AP’s first-team. An Iron Terp performer (top weight room award), holds school strength records for a tight end in bench (465), vertical jump (40.5 inches), index (812), squat (685) and 40-yd. dash time (4.41).

PERSONAL:
•Started three seasons at tight end and safety at Dunbar (Washington, D.C.) HS, but also saw time at wide receiver, kick returner, linebacker and defen­sive end during his tenure, as team compiled a 31-5 overall record.
•As a senior, was chosen second-team All-USA by USA Today after catching 21 passes for 511 yds. (24.3 avg.) and 5 TDs. Also returned 4 kicks for TDs.
•Selected to play in U.S. Army All-American Bowl as a junior.
•Was the DCIAA champion in the high jump (6’5).
•Nickname “The Duke” originated from a name he inherited from his father who was called “Duke.”
•Donated $10,000 to Newborn Pentecostal in honor of his grandmother, Ada­line, who raised Vernon and his six siblings.
•Born Vernon Davis (1/31/84) in Washington, D.C.

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