From Gridiron to Hollywood: Vernon Davis on Purpose, Pressure, and Pursuing Passions

When I understood how important it was to be selfless and do things for the sake of the team, then I became a better. Not just a better player, but a better person overall because that shifted over to life. That gave me a lesson, and I'm extremely grateful for it.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of Mick Unplugged.

And today, I am honored to be with one of my goats.

We're talking about from gridiron greatness to red carpet flair. He's a Super bowl champion, a savvy entrepreneur, a rising Hollywood star. He's an author, he's a musician, he's a comedian. I'll talk a little bit about that in a minute. I don't even know all the great things that this man does, but here's.

What I can promise you. Everything he does, he does with purpose. So get ready for a bold conversation with the fearless, the versatile, the unstoppable Dunbar High School's own my guy, Mr. Vernon Davis. Vernon, how you doing today, brother?

I appreciate it. Good to be here. Good to be here, doing well.

I am the honored one, man.

So, you know, I was telling you.

Offline all the accolades you have. Truly honored to be here with you. But I've told everybody, one of my best friends in the world is Algie Crumpler, tight end at University of North Carolina. The Falcons, the Titans, the Patriots. The best hands I've ever seen are Vernon Davis, man. Like, you are one of the folks that truly redefined the position. And I tell cats now, like, my son coaches football. And I said, if Vernon Davis. If college Vernon Davis played in college football today, he would rewrite every history book that there is known. Because you were that guy, man.

Like, you were getting. You were getting cover four and cover three when that's not what colleges were doing, brother.

Yeah, that was you taking me back, man. You got me. Got me. Got me thinking about it. Those are the fun days. I remember just trying to figure it out. That's when I was trying to figure it out. And you're right, they were switching coverage on me. I just. A lot of it had to do with my speed. Me being able to go from £225 to £250 and keeping my speed. It was. That was a shock to me as well.

Yup, yup, yup. Well, Vernon, man, like, I love asking everybody when we start about your because, that thing that's deeper than your why, and I know that that purpose and passion is a pillar for you, one of your core values. If I were to Say, Vernon Davis, what's your. Because, man, like, what's that engine that's keeping you pursuing all the great things you're doing?

The thing that, That I. The. The engine behind me is, for one, understanding where I came from and how it started. Like, every. Everything that created me, everything that I saw, the experiences that. That gave me life, you know, the. The ones that were here and not long. No. And are no longer here.

Right.

I do it for them. And. And I bring everything together. And when you have that collage behind you, then you have something to work with that's. You have a. Something that drives you, and everyone needs something to drive them, or else you're not going to get the things done that you want to get done.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir, man. And again, I could talk about all the accolades that you've had on the field, right? Super bowl champion, being a leader of men, right? Being a person that the community looks up to. How do you carry that with you every day, knowing that the person that Vernon Davis is, is the person that everybody's looking up to? Because that's.

I don't want to say it's pressure.

But everybody doesn't have that burden, right? Like that, that theme. How do you deal with it, man? How do you do it?

Well, I've been playing football for so long, I always had the pressure on me. We had to. Every. Every day I stepped out, whether it's practice or game, I had to catch every pass, throwing my way. And that's a lot of pressure, being great. My coach came up to me one day, he said, you can't have a bad practice. You can't have a bad practice.

Yeah.

I accepted it. I embraced it. I understood the importance of. What it tells me, is that it doesn't matter. You can't think about failing.

Failing.

Failure is a good thing. If you fail, you get back up, you dust yourself off, and it makes you better, it makes you stronger. It makes you think about not doing that one thing again, and it does something to you. And when I understand that, I understand that pressure is nothing. It's just the word. It's just something that's there. You can't even see it.

Yep, yep. And, you know, you talked about your speed, that 4, 3 speed that you had at tight end, man. But what people also don't know is, I'm going to say the casual fan or the people that don't watch, man, if you go back and look at every snap that Vernon Davis played college, pro, you name it, bro, you want to you were an elite blocker as well, right? Like, you were very precise in everything that you did. You were not only a star, but you were also an ultimate teammate and team member as well, too, man. Like, so knowing that you had to not just catch every ball, but also lead by example, by going and blocking those fast DNS or those. Those edge rushers coming off, man. Like, what was that like for you as well?

Yeah, for me, it's just, of course, being a playmaker and a pass catcher, you want to catch passes, you don't really want to block. And that was the attitude I had coming into the league. But when I understood how important it was to. To be selfless and do things for the sake of the team, then I became a better. Not just a better player, but a better person overall because that shifted over to life. That gave me a lesson, and I'm extremely grateful for it.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

So, you know, you're a person who transitioned from football to life outside of football. Really, really well, man. Like, again, I go back to one of your core pillars of being purpose and always making sure that you are that example for people. What. How did those traits of football transfer off the field for you?

Because the football is a. I mean, when you go, oh, my man, it's just. You learn so much from the game. Like, everything comes from love. It comes from humility. It comes from navigating. Maybe you. I had panic disorder and anxiety when I was playing, playing the game of football. I connected more with God. And just when you find all those different experiences in the game of football, you find that those things can transfer over to life, even the. Even the consistency and repetition. Like, I give the story about me being the last person on the football field for 14 long years, and you might think, like, wow, that's crazy. Vernon's playing at a pro level. There's other pros out there. Why aren't they doing it? It's a difference between being good and being great. And you understand the formula. The formula of being great comes from always doing what you're doing, falling in love passionately with the craft. And when you take that over to whatever else you're doing, then you're gonna have the same level of success.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Now, before we get into acting, man, like I said in the opener, great musician, I saw Vernon Davis pick up.

A freaking guitar, and I was like, wait a second, what is going on right now? And then I saw Vernon Davis spitting bars, and I was like, wait a second. What is going on right now and then I thought back and I was.

Like, his attention to detail, everything he did on the field, that attention to detail that he has, he's transferring everything, man. Like, talk to the audience, the viewers and listeners about how attention to detail in everything you do is so important.

Yeah, I think attention to detail is. You're right. It's all. That means it's always about the little things, the little things that you do, but. And the little things for me is being able to take everything. And I want to say, streamline it, right. In a way where giving everything. Intention, I would say. Intention, that's very important. And I learned that over time that being an artist, it's not me just being in front of the camera, acting, it's me learning the whole genre. Learning how everything works, from the camera to directing and being in music is not me just writing, but learning how to put those words in front of instrumentals, you know what I'm saying? And just having fun with life is about having fun. We got to have something. Life is hard. We got to have something that we can. That gives us joy. Right? Because that joy allows us to be able to get through every single day. Because we got kids. You got all these things. You work, you got your kids, you have your investing, you have your employees, your coworkers, you have maybe issues with your car. All these different things that we have going on that we need something to give us joy to get through these days. What is that for you? That's what I've learned. That, you know, whatever it is that makes you happy, then do it.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

And so let's go into acting now, man. Over 30 credits. You know, I know a lot of people that, me included, they don't have one. And I know a lot of famous.

People that might have, like, two or three little.

You know, I was in this one. You've got 30 credits, man, so obviously taking acting very serious. And you got to work with one of my heroes, Morgan Freeman, man. Like, when did you know that film and acting was an avenue that you wanted to pursue, man?

I feel like. I feel like when I. So I knew it when I took a class at the Shelton Theater. Theater. Theater of Art. That's where Danny Glover went. And I would sneak away from practice and I would go down and I would be in these improv classes. And there was a girl that worked with the 49ers organization. She came to some of my. My. My classes to kind of see me work.

Yeah.

And I was like, this is what I really want to do. I was horrible at it at first. Of course, everyone, when you first starting out, it was just. You don't have. I look back at my old footage, and I'm like, gosh, man. Ah, that was. That was awful. That was so bad. But I find that the more you do it, the better you get. Like, even just watching myself, like, I'm. I'm just. I'm getting really good at the craft, and I'm here to stay. I'm not here to leave. I'm not gonna leave. I'm here, and I've embraced it.

People.

People don't know what I'm doing. A lot of people probably don't know what I'm doing or who I am in the space. But at some point in time, they're gonna understand and they're gonna know because they're gonna see me in something. They're gonna be like, man, that brother's good. I know that because it's happening now. You know, a lot of people, I had. I had a. I was a part of this film festival called Indy Night Film Festival that's put on by Dave Brown, which is the assistant and manager of Jamie Foxx, right? He does this all over the United States. And we did it in Oakland. He came. I had a film called. What is the name of the film? It's called Gosh, I've done some stuff. It's running. It's called Masquerade. So we. We were like the. We were the. We had the. The highlighted film, and he saw it. And then I'm sitting there, I get a text from him. He's like, brother, if ain't nobody told you, I'll be the first to tell you, you got a career. He's like, you got a career. And I'm just smiling because I. You know, a lot of people don't know the level of commitment. You know, I've had an acting coach for five years. We work every Tuesday and Thursday.

We work.

We either reading scripts or we studying Shakespeare. We doing something. We just working, right? So what that does, over time, it just. It creates something in you. You know what I mean? So if I'm. If I'm. If I'm. Where I'm at right now in five years, imagine where I'm be at in 10 years, right? I'm going to be extremely good because I'm doing something that most people don't even do. Even people who are great don't even have a coach at this stuff, Right? But why. But that's what I'M saying, like some, some people understand the essence of. For me, I feel like if I'm going to do something, I'm going to put my whole heart into it and I'm always have everything. I'm going to go above and beyond. I'm had the things that most people don't even think of, right?

Yes, sir.

Even if I, I can win an Oscar, I'm still gonna have an acting coach. I don't, I don't care. I don't, I don't care. That's just how I work. That's. That's something I learned from football. So that's why I said, like, if don't nobody know, they gonna know at some point they gonna know. I promise you that. I believe that.

Oh, I can promise you that too, brother. Like one of the things I will say if, if I don't know. Vernon Davis played football and I'm looking at clips that you're in, man. Like, I would have thought that this is what you've been doing all your life because your timing is so impeccable. And I don't think a lot of. Again, a lot of casuals understand acting in a serious movie, a comedy movie, a romance like timing between delivering your lines and the interaction that you have with the star that's with you is so important and you've mastered that, dude, your timing is unreal, brother.

I appreciate it, man. I appreciate it. I was, I had a challenge in role. The movies actually got picked up by to be. It was directed by Steven Spielberg's daughter, Destry Spielberg. It comes out at the end of the month. We actually got a premiere in New York on the 26th. But I was challenged, man. I'm not going to even lie. We filmed this movie last year, about a year and a half. But I played a role. I don't want to give the movie, the film away, but I played a role that was extremely challenging for me. And you know, I had to give. Go. Go somewhere that I never been before and do something I've never done. But it was, it was a challenge. But I got through it. I did it. I pulled it off. But when I left that, that when I left New Mexico after filming that movie, I had a stronger belief in myself that I can, if I can do that, I can do anything. I can't wait for everybody to see the film. It's a great film. Comes out end of the month on two on to be so excited about it.

I'll make sure that we, we air that at the release Time, too. That way we can, we can get it all hyped up for you.

Because that'd be dope. You got the role that I play. You're gonna be, you'll be amazing. You'll be like, wow, this is crazy.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir, man. A question I've always wanted to ask you since you do all these amazing things, right? How do you silence doubt of people that just want to see you as Vernon Davis, the former football player? Because even like, I go through that sometimes where it's like, okay, Mick, now you're into podcasting, but we know Mick the leadership consultant or we know Mick the insurance agent, right? Like, how do you silence that doubt? Cause I need your coaching on that piece, man.

I silence the doubt just by doing what I do. Like, just doing. It's like, it's like being on the football field and the whole 60,000 people there. You, you silence them out. You, you do what you know you can do, right? You don't even worry about what people think about. You make a mistake, you'd be like, all right, I'm gonna get back up. Keep it going, keep moving. They there, they watching that. That's, that's what I believe. That's what I think. Because as long as you doing it, because this is the thing, if you passionate about it and you love it and it's, and, and you know that this is something that you're gonna be doing and you don't really, you're not really thinking about. Only thing you're thinking about is executing. The noise will always be there, but you're going to be doing what you do, which is winning. That's how I, that's how I think. And it don't even matter what everybody else think of me or, or what they, with their idea or, or their viewpoint. Maybe they say, mick, you should change something. You should change this. Okay, I hear you, but I'm gonna do it mixed way and I'm gonna make it work this way. Cause you have the vision. They don't have your vision.

I needed that today, bro. Yeah, see, I needed coaching from Vernon Davis. That's, that's another avenue for you, by the way, just so you know.

Oh, thank you.

But, but it's that mind that you have, man. So again, football, acting, musician, you also have one of the best brilliant business minds that I know, right? As an investor, as an entrepreneur, what is like one of your decision making frameworks, right? Because again, it's a question I've always, always wanted to ask you because you've done well in that aspect as well, brother.

Understanding people. People can make or break you, man. It's like, even when I look at the business, I don't look at the business, the product. I look at the people who I'm working with. Are they loyal? How. How they talk, you know, how they talk, how they operate, how they. How they treat other people? Yeah, they got to treat people the way you. You got to be aligned with people who treat people the same way you treat them. Because life is all about how we treat people, you know, Respect, honor, you know, that's what I look for. That's what I look for when I'm working with anything. Anything comes with a person. Anything that we do comes with a person. So the person behind that thing, that's who I'm. That's who I'm listening to. My grandmother always taught me that it's always for people.

What's wild. You know, Damon John is one of my mentors, and he literally, verbatim says that same thing, right? Like, I choose to invest in people. There's a bunch of products that are similar. There are a bunch of ideas that are similar. But what separates what he does is literally the people.

The people. And my grandmother. My grandmother. I'll tell you a story. When I first got. When I was first getting drafted, financial advisor came in from Florida, and this dude sat on the couch, I used to always run people about my grandma because I knew she had wisdom. She's still here with us. She's amazing. She's like my best friend, man. We. We talk like we teammates. She. She's. She's amazing, and she's so funny, but she. She. She is unbelievable, man. She said, that guy came in. In the house and selling the couch after, like, 10 minutes, my grandmother, she looked at him, looked at me. She said, you a snake. Get out my house. You a snake. I said. I said, mom, Mom, Mom. Wait, wait, wait. What's going on? Wait, wait. Just let me talk to you. Hold on. She was right. She. She could smell it. That same guy ended up ripping me off $500,000 and taking millions from other athletes.

That's crazy.

Yeah. Yeah, that's crazy. Same guy. She knew it. She knew it.

Grandma knew.

She knew.

Grandma knew.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Vernon, you're also a guy of, if I'll say, infinite wisdom, man. Like, talking to you, how cerebral you are. I'm very, very, very, very honored to have you, man. Like, if I were to ask you, what. What's the legacy you're trying to leave behind, right, all the things you're doing. What's the legacy for Vernon Davis?

Yeah, my legacy is. Is a guy who led by. Led by example. A guy who. Who was the most benevolent person you could ever meet in your life. When people meet me, I was. I feel like I should be who everyone wants to be, because I can sit here and say, honestly, I try my best to do everything right, even though I know I'm not perfect at it. But I try. I try not to steal. I try not to take. I try not to. You know, it's the same thing. I try not to get over on people. I do. I try to be super, super patient and calm when it comes to everyone. I want people to look at me and say, I want to live the life that this man lived. Not only was he the best person you could possibly ever meet, but he also was the hardest working person. And he didn't care what anybody think about him. He just took chances. That's what I. That's what I want to leave behind. I want. I want people to say, I want to be just like this dude right here.

I love that, man. Like, you know, I didn't tell you this offline, but I have three kids. My daughter's 27. My. My middle child by the time his. His birthday is actually June 25th. So I'll make sure I do something special for him with this episode. Because you're, like, his favorite athlete of all time. He's a Patriot fan, like his dad, like me. And you're his favorite athlete of all time. And so for him, he tells me all the time, like, dad, I'm just proud of Vernon Davis. And I'm like, dude, what do you mean? He goes. All the success he had on the field, when you look at what he's done off the field, it's even more impactful because someone like me, who could have never been an NFL player, I can go pursue the things that he's doing, and he's given me blueprints to be successful. So I just want to tell you on behalf of my boys, man, like, thank you for being that model and that blueprint. Because everyone, everyone can't be a superstar athlete, but you're giving people things that they can do off the field, and I personally want to thank you for that.

Oh, thank you, man. I appreciate that. Thank you.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

All right, Vernon, I'm gonna do, like, my hot five, my quick five. All right, you ready for it?

Let's go. High five, baby. Let's Go, baby.

All right, so I know you went to Maryland. What were some of the other schools.

That were in the mix?

University of Florida, Purdue, University of Virginia. And those are my top top schools that I was. That I was looking to. Looking at.

Okay. And so this was pre nil. So Maryland had the bag. That's what I just heard. Huh?

They didn't have the bag. But I just wanted to know. I went to Maryland because I, I want to stay close to home. I had my siblings and I want to help my grandmother out.

So I just totally mess with me totally messing with you on. On a Vernon Davis cheat meal day or cheat meal period. What's your go to cheat meal?

My go to cheat meal, man. I'm having a brownie with ice cream or hot chocolate lava cake like I had last night.

Love it, love it, love it. What's one NFL memory that sticks out for you like it was yesterday?

One NFL memory that sticks out for me like it's yesterday. Catching that game winning catch against the Saints in the NFC championship. No, the first playoff game we had. Yeah, that game where it was a few seconds left on the clock. I ran the skinny post and scored the touchdown. That was. That's the most memorable moment in NFL.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

What's one book that's changed your perspective or that really has left an impact on your life?

Say Joyce Meyers book. That was like my intro into spiritual world, connecting more with myself. That really helped me. It was a lot of messages in there that really gave me inspiration and helped me when I was going through some tough times.

I love it. I love it.

It's called the Battlefield. The Battlefield of the Mind is the name of that book.

Oh, I'm gonna go get that one.

You should. I'm gonna change your life. Change your life.

I'm getting it now. I'm getting it now. All right, last one. Vernon, what's. What's your dream role? If you could write your the dream role for you in acting, what would that be?

Oh, I'm flying all over the place. I'm a superhero saving the world.

You got it.

For all the viewers and listeners, remember your because is your superpower. Go unleash it.