Recently-retired tight end Vernon Davis, who spent his final four NFL seasons with the Washington Redskins, calls Washington, D.C. home. Despite being born in Washington, D.C., there will always be a part of him that sees San Francisco as the city where he grew up. Not as a youth, but as a football player.
For that, he will always be grateful.
"In my heart, San Francisco will always have a place (as home) because that's where I feel like my name was created," Davis told Mark Willard on KNBR Thursday night. "I went from a boy to a man in San Francisco, and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I'm honored, I'm grateful to have that experience and play for an illustrious team like San Francisco, who gave me an opportunity to create something for myself. I'll always have that spot there."
Davis, of course, is best known for hauling in the game-winning pass from quarterback Alex Smith in the playoffs against the New Orleans Saints. It's a play that defined his career and one that he looks back on fondly.
"That was a moment there, as a kid, you always dream of hitting that game-winning shot," Davis said. "To me, that was that game-winning shot. That was something I dreamed of doing. That was something that I always wanted to do.
"The support from the fans, the organization, and just our first time advancing in the playoffs, that was a pivotal moment for us, as a team. And to be able to have that achievement and to accomplish something of that nature is totally out of this world. It's just amazing to be able to experience that with my teammates."
The 49ers made Davis the No. 6 overall pick in 2006. He spent his first 10 NFL seasons in San Francisco before a brief stint with the Denver Broncos and finishing his career in Washington.
Davis won a Super Bowl with Denver and was selected to two Pro Bowls over his career.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Davis below.