NFL legend Vernon Davis has high hopes for his newly released memoir.
A Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowler, the former tight end has tackled Hollywood since retiring in 2020.
Now an actor and producer, Davis has decided there’s no time like the present to impart some of his life lessons in his memoir, Playing Ball – Life Lessons from My Journey to the Super Bowl and Beyond.
“I’ve always thought about creating a book,” Davis told The U.S. Sun.
Despite this, his initial plan had always been to wait until he reached his 70s or 80s, not certain if he’d have enough content before then.
However, Davis has since pivoted, realizing that was far from the case.
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“Life is too short. If I can tell my story right now based on what I’ve done, I mean, ’cause there’s no exploration.
“I don’t know if I want to make it to 70 or 80. So why not write the book right now?” he asked.
Davis’ memoir covers “his difficult teenage years,” his success in the NFL, and his current career as an actor, producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
It all kicks off with an introduction from one of Davis’ former head coaches with the San Francisco 49ers – NFL Hall of Famer Mike Singletary.
The Chicago Bears legend played a vital role in Davis’ change of attitude early in his career, calling him out in a well-known press conference during the 2008 season.
“It is more about them than it is about the team,” Singletary said of Davis’ attitude at the time.
“Cannot play with them. Cannot win with them. Cannot coach with them. Can’t do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win.”
The following season, Davis reached his first Pro Bowl after racking up a career-high 965 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.
Having Singletary agree to write the introduction to his memoir was “special” for Davis.
“I know a lot of people talk about the moment that I had with coach Singletary when I was in San Francisco, but I don’t think they understand how important that moment was for me, how close it brought Singletary and I together,” he explained.
“He’s a great man. Everyone needs…it was designed that way.
“Singletary was supposed to be there at that time. Blessings come in disguise, and I felt like he was a blessing to my life.”
Davis’s overall goal for his memoir is that he believes “a lot of people are going to be inspired by this book.”
“I think there’s a lot of different pieces that show who I am as a person, how vulnerable I am, and how vulnerable I’ve been throughout my years,” he added.
The former 49ers, Denver Broncos, and Washington Commanders star believes he is “a special” and “unbelievable story that people can add to their life.”
He hoped his readers could use his story “as an example of how to operate, how to behave, and what they should aspire to be.”
What’s more, Davis hopes his book can help fans feel more at ease with their emotions.
“I hope people understand that it’s okay to be able to cry,” he said.
“It’s okay to laugh. It’s okay to smile. It’s okay to go outside your comfort zone and do things that other people aren’t doing.
“I want them to know that because that’s what my life has been.”
Davis explained that he’s been working without any master plan in mind, simply taking each year as it comes.
“I’ve had plans. I’ve had goals and targets and things of that nature that change along the way,” he added.
“You know, you can want to do this today, but tomorrow that might change.”
Since retiring, Davis has founded Reel 85 and Between the Linez Productions.
He’s worked as an executive producer and actor on numerous TV series and movies.
Some of his most well-known projects include The Ritual Killer starring Morgan Freeman, A Day To Die starring Bruce Willis, and Chariot starring John Malkovich.
He is also set to star in Destry Allyn Spielberg’s upcoming thriller, Don’t Feed The Children, starring Michelle Dockery.