Beyond the Jersey: Vernon Davis
BASILE, La (KLFY) -- In this week's Beyond the Jersey, KLFY team spoke with Vernon Davis, who is not only a talented athlete but is now an actor in an upcoming film.
Just over in Basile, Louisiana, one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history is continuing his life after football. Two-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl champion Vernon Davis is producing and starring in a new psychological horror film alongside a star-studded cast featuring Malcolm Goodwin, David Anders, Olivia Grace Applegate, among others. The movie was written by Davis and Tiffany Toney.
The title of the film and the release date are still to be determined.
Davis has enjoyed his stay in the Acadiana area while filming this upcoming project.
"It's been nothing but amazing, man. As you can see, this property that we're staying on has been phenomenal." Davis said. "Being able to walk outside and see the water, the animals walking around, and the deer, it's truly inspiring to just see what Mother Nature has to give. I could live here forever. I could live here forever, and I say that with true honesty. But it's been great. It's been a great shoot. The cast, the crew, everyone has been amazing."
After playing 14 years in the National Football League, Davis ranks 7th in receiving touchdowns and 11th in receiving yards all-time among tight ends. Davis spent 10 years of his career in San Francisco and has the fourth-most receiving touchdowns in franchise history behind Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, and Gene Washington. I brought a memento to our interview that symbolized Davis' past, a 49ers helmet. When Davis saw the helmet, it brought back memories of a high-stakes game against the New Orleans Saints in the 2012 NFC Divisional Round.
"Oh, this brings back the very first time I went to the playoffs. We played the New Orleans Saints." Davis said.
Davis dominated New Orleans in that 20212 matchup, tallying 7 catches for 180 yards and 2 touchdowns. One of his two touchdowns came with 14 seconds remaining on the clock in the 4th quarter, helping lift the 49ers to the NFC Championship while crushing the dreams of Saints Fans.
"So we all saw Jimmy Graham score that long touchdown. He was able to get in the end zone, and after that, I'm sure everyone thought it was over." Davis recalled. "They said the New Orleans Saints got this game by far. Right? But we were able to stay in it. We stayed confident in our ability to be able to go out and make big plays, and we did. We got the ball back, and we had a huge drive. Frank Gore made a big run. I made a couple of good catches along the sideline, and then it was down to that last catch, that final catch that everyone gives me a hard time about. Which is now considered "The Catch III" which is one of the best catches in 49ers history. So I'm elated to be a part of something so special. But that game, it was either you win or you go home, and we don't have the playoffs. The playoffs are you win or go home, and that's what I was thinking. That was going through my mind. I said, "I have this one opportunity to do something I've always dreamed of doing. Here's the moment." I capitalized on the moment."
Now retired from the game of football, Davis looks to carry the lessons he's learned in the locker room and translate them on the movie set.
"Every Sunday, before we went out on the field and we played in front of thousands of fans, I made sure that I was prepared." Davis said. "Preparation is the key to success, and just like acting, before I get in front of the camera, I make sure I'm prepared because I learned the fundamentals of preparation while I was playing ball. So I just take it, take it with me everywhere I go."