On the surface, the hiring of Jim Harbaugh seemed to make all the difference. The Niners went 13-3 in 2011 and ultimately made three NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl with him at the helm. Harbaugh left little doubt that he was an elite head coach, but the team was also full of talented players who were still hitting their stride upon his arrival. Vernon Davis was one of those players.
The Pro Bowl tight end ranks seventh all-time in franchise history in receiving yards (5,640) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (55). He was also a prolific playoff performer with 600 yards receiving and seven touchdowns over eight postseason games.
Davis was recently a guest on the No Huddle podcast and was asked why he thought the 49ers were able to turn things around in 2011. Was it the arrival of Harbaugh, the growth of the players, or a little of both?
"I think the players were evolving. We all gelled together and we really cared about each other," said Davis. "We hung out, we stayed together. When you have that togetherness I think it says a lot because a lot of times I've been on teams where guys are just together in the locker room. They go to work, they don't hang out outside of that. But the team that we had, we stuck together, man"
Davis also discusses his new book, the infamous Mike Singletary press conference, Harbaugh's return to the NFL and more. You can watch the entire interview here:
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Why Tuesday is crucial for Dre Greenlaw's long-awaited 49ers return
Linebacker Dre Greenlaw is inching closer to his long-awaited return to the football field after suffering a torn Achilles in February. The San Francisco 49ers have targeted Thursday night's game against the Los Angeles Rams for his potential 2024 season debut. However, that is... -
"We're playing for our playoff lives": Why John Lynch believes 49ers can deliver
Every game has become a must-win for the San Francisco 49ers, who host the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night at Levi's Stadium. Treating each matchup as a playoff contest, the 49ers understand that another loss could seal their fate—playoff elimination. At 6-7, the team... -
Why Ron Rivera would be wary of paying 49ers QB Brock Purdy top-market money
The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up to face a pivotal decision in a few weeks. That's when they can start negotiating a contract extension for quarterback Brock Purdy. Despite some lackluster performances this season, the organization remains committed to keeping Purdy for... -
49ers mailbag: What do the 49ers have left in the tank for the last four games? Will SF bring back Robert Saleh? Can Brock Purdy beat good teams?
It's always a big week when the San Francisco 49ers play the Los Angeles Rams. In 2021, the rivalry became even bigger when the 49ers had to win in the season's final week, in Los Angeles, to make it into the playoffs. On Thursday night, the 49ers must win again to keep their...