Exclusive: Vernon Davis talks Brock Bowers, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle and More

By Kyle Odegard

Vernon Davis was one of the better tight ends of his era.

The ex-49ers and Commanders star made a pair of Pro Bowls, secured an All-Pro and twice caught 13 touchdowns in a season during a 14-year career that wrapped in 2019.

The former first-round pick has since successfully transitioned to the world of entertainment, acting and producing for the past several years in Hollywood.

Davis recently sat down for an exclusive interview with Online Casinos Canada to discuss the 49ers, the Commanders, the best tight end in the NFL, the Maryland Terrapins and his acting career.

Q: There is a good debate about the best tight end in the NFL, with George Kittle, Trey McBride and Brock Bowers each having a case. Who would you pick as the best right now?

Vernon Davis: “Last year I found myself living in Vegas for two months while doing a show called ‘Rock the Block’ for HGTV. I found myself at quite a few Vegas Raiders football games. I had never watched Brock Bowers play in person, but I’m sitting there and I’m like, ‘This guy’s got it.’

“He reminds me a lot of myself. His ability to go zero to 100 from the line of scrimmage is impeccable. He’s definitely the tight end I would choose, because of his explosiveness. I see a little bit of myself. I see Jordan Reed with his elusiveness, his quickness. I see Travis Kelce. I see a little bit of everybody in this guy.

“He’s got everything, and he’s not afraid to put his nose in there and block. He will do it to the best of his ability. So I’m taking him, hands down. I love the kid. He’s exciting to watch and he’s only going to get better. He’s my guy.”

Q: What do you think of the 49ers’ chances in 2026? It’s such a stacked division with the Rams and Seahawks.

Vernon Davis: “I feel good about the 49ers. I feel like they have everything they need, from playmakers to leaders. Bringing Deebo Samuel back was major for them. They have been able to keep the nucleus of the team together. They haven’t lost that. They’re only getting better with the guys they were able to bring in.

“I’m excited about them, and they just have to get over the hump. Look man, they get really close every year. They just have to take the momentum and keep it going.”

Q: What are your thoughts on George Kittle? He’s coming off a major injury and is a little older now. Do you think he can still be the difference-maker he’s been for so long?

Vernon Davis: “From experience, I feel like the older I got, the better I got. When I was playing for the Washington Commanders, they would call me the Ageless Wonder, and they called me that because of my production. I didn’t get worse, only got better. And I feel like George Kittle is the type of tight end that is only going to get better.

“The older we get, the more crafty we have to become and the more technical we have to become. You become a technician. You can block anybody as long as you have the proper technique. I was 6-4, 245 pounds when I was playing but I still got the job done in the passing game and the running game because I was a master of the craft. I think George Kittle is a master of the craft. I believe in him and I still think he can go out there and be effective.”

Q: What are your thoughts on Brandon Aiyuk? Do you think he will end up playing somewhere this year?

Vernon Davis: “I think Brandon Aiyuk needs to stay out of the media, be quiet and do what he has to do. He’s only hurting himself. Buddy, you are not bigger than the NFL. There was once upon a time when I was trying to hold out and demand more money. I realized quickly I (wasn’t bigger than the NFL).

“I know his situation is more about him getting on the right team. The money is already there. It’s about finding that team, and for him to do that, he’s going to have to be quiet. Sit in the back seat, put a zip on his mouth and be quiet. Play the game of football, man. Everybody knows you can play. Just play. Get on a team, be quiet and play.

“If it’s not too late for him. I don’t think it’s too late. I think he can go into an organization, be effective and be a good locker room guy. From what I hear about him, I don’t think he’s a bad person. I don’t think he’s a cancer in the locker room. I just think he’s making some noise and he’s becoming part of the outside (distraction). He’s becoming the noise.”

Q: As for the Commanders, two years ago they were awesome and last year they had a ton of injuries. Do you feel like this is a pivotal season for Jayden Daniels, for Dan Quinn, for a lot of people over there?

Vernon Davis: “This is a pivotal moment for everyone in the organization. It’s time for them to win football games. Enough about who we brought in, this and that. It’s time to win football games. Everyone is in the hot seat. Let’s go. Let’s win.

“We had great draft picks. Sonny Styles is a beast. He’s pretty much a safety playing linebacker that can do it all. You can even flex him out and let him play corner, based on his athleticism. I think they’ve done a great job with that. But it’s time to win.”

Q: Are you a fan of Jayden Daniels and what he can do at quarterback?

Vernon Davis: “I think Jayden is a very talented quarterback. I think he’s only getting better, from what he saw his first year until now. He’s healthy and he’s got great weapons around him. It’s all on him going out and doing what he does best, which is what we saw in college and what we saw his first year in the league.

“The noise is the noise, but just play football. He has everything. He’s poised in the pocket. He can run. His decision-making. Everything that makes a quarterback special, he has it.”

Q: What did you think of how Malik Washington played last year for Maryland as a young guy? And how key is he to leading the charge this year?

Vernon Davis: “Malik Washington, I like him a lot. I was at practice the other day and I was watching him. I like him. I like his ability. I like the way he throws, his mechanics when he’s throwing the ball, his delivery. He gets the ball out quick. He’s very accurate and precise. He’s a really good talent. He’s going to be really good, here and in the future.

“He’s everything the Terps need to win games. It’s going to have to be done together though. He can’t go out there and do it himself, but they have a good chance with the talent they have and him leading the pack. It’s going to be good.”

Q: Mike Locksley is coming off a pair of back-to-back four-win seasons. Do you feel like this is a critical season for him to remain the coach, and what do you think of the job he’s done?

Vernon Davis: “I believe in Mike Locksley. Locksley recruited me out of high school and I’ve always followed him. He’s from the area and he does a really good job bringing in assistant coaches and putting them to work. He’s a businessman, he’s a leader, he’s a great coach, he’s everything. With his experience and everything he’s bringing to the University of Maryland, I think they are going to be just fine. He does a great job of keeping some of the best talent from the area here. I think he’s going to get it done for them, for sure.”

Q: You recently played an imprisoned father in ‘Diamond,’ an acclaimed short film written and produced by DeShon Hardy about a basketball star growing up in a tough environment. What drew you in when you read the script?

Vernon Davis: “I thought ‘Diamond’ was a great project. It was something I could relate to, because it was not ideal. His dad was struggling. His dad goes to jail. His mom was on drugs. It was just a broken home, and I feel like I can relate to that, because my mom and dad weren’t always around. My grandparents raised me. I had a lot of brokenness there.”

Q: What kind of process did you go through figuring out how you wanted to play this character?

Vernon Davis: “It’s just staying true to the material, but there may be some things you feel you want to add to this character. That’s just natural. It’s something you’re pulling from real-life situations, from real-life experience. It’s all how you react and how you respond. It’s pulling from your life and taking those emotions and putting it all together. That’s what I love about it.”

Q: Do you have certain long-term aspirations when it comes to acting and producing?

Vernon Davis: “My long-term aspirations are to keep doing this until the end of time. Because you can. You can write, you can produce, you can direct, you can act, you can do it all forever.”