Vernon Davis and Mike Singletary did not have the warmest relationship in the beginning – something the former 49ers tight end wishes was different.
Davis, who appeared on Audacy’s “49ers Webzone: No Huddle” podcast to promote his upcoming memoir, “Playing Ball,” spoke about his relationship with Singletary, who wrote the introduction for his book.
“Initially, as young man coming in trying to find yourself and have someone guide you like Mike Singletary is a beautiful thing,” Davis said. “As I think back, I kinda regret it, in a sense that I wasn’t able to retain information that he was giving and to be that leader initially that the team wanted me to be.”
Davis and Singletary had an infamous moment during a game in 2008 when the Singletary benched the tight end for drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty then publicly called him out in the now infamous “we want winners” postgame press conference.
But it became a turning point in Davis’ career as he emerged as a leader for the 49ers in the following years.
“Eventually, I started to find something in myself, and became cognizant of the little details I needed to be able to be that person that they brought me in to be,” Davis said.
Davis also reminisced about the Jim Harbaugh years and discussed whether or not he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Listen to the full interview above.