The San Francisco 49ers have had one of the more surprising seasons across the NFL to this point. Despite dealing with a rash of injuries, the team has stayed afloat in a wildly competitive NFC West division, as they head into Week 12 with a 7-4 record. Considering how much the team has managed to win to this point, it feels like anything is possible for them throughout the remainder of the 2025 season.
And yet, even with all their success, there has still been a bit of drama surrounding the team, thanks in large part to the play of Mac Jones while he filled in under center for Brock Purdy. One guy who has been keeping close tabs on the team is former Pro Bowl tight end Vernon Davis. In an exclusive interview with Heavy on 49ers, Davis weighed in on the state of the Niners, while also discussing his partnership with Smirnoff’s “We Do Game Days” platform.
Does Vernon Davis Think the 49ers Can Contend for a Super Bowl this Year?
In 2024, San Fran labored through a 6-11 season, as the team simply could not stay healthy. And while that’s remained true this season, the Niners look like a completely different team. Jones’ ability to fill in for Purdy for eight games certainly helped, but once Purdy recovered from a toe injury, Jones was quickly sent back to the bench. While Jones’ strong play must be acknowledged, Davis thinks turning back to Purdy was the right decision by the team.
“Purdy has solidified himself. We know what Purdy can do, we know what he’s done,” Davis said to Heavy on 49ers. “I feel like he deserves a chance to get back in there and lead his guys. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what has happened. It just is what it is; that’s how it’s supposed to go. It doesn’t matter if a guy’s doing good, that’s fine, he’s supposed to.”
While the Niners are clearly thrilled to have Purdy back, they have already lost several key pieces, such as defensive end Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner, to season-ending injuries. The team has done well to stay afloat to this point, but it’s fair to wonder just how much can be accomplished without those superstar players. Davis, however, isn’t counting out his former squad just because they are down a few key players.
“As long as the quarterback and the offensive weapons that he’s surrounded by does their job, I think they still have a chance, but of course, defense has to step up,” Davis claimed. “You know the saying: the offense wins games, the defense wins championships. If they can do that and play well all around, offense, defense, special teams, they got a chance to do some things. We’ll see.”
For all the success San Fran has enjoyed during the Kyle Shanahan era, it hasn’t yielded a Super Bowl just yet. With the roster not getting any younger, some folks are worried that their title window could be closing, but Davis doesn’t see it that way, saying, “I don’t think their window is closing. I think guys are getting older … If they can continue to bring pieces in, and rely on what they have, and just keep building, I think they still have a shot. I wouldn’t count them out of it.”
Vernon Davis Discusses Smirnoff ‘We Do Game Days’ Partnership
GettyVernon Davis at the Richmond Raceway on April 2, 2023.
While Davis called it a career after the 2019 season, he hasn’t slowed down much, as he has successfully transitioned into the world of business. Among his latest ventures, Davis has partnered with Smirnoff, where he will be doing work with the company’s “We Do Game Days” platform. With Smirnoff now in its fifth season as the Official Vodka Sponsor of the NFL, Davis revealed what fans can expect from the “We Do Game Days” platform.
“It’s all about the sideline storylines, cool fits, cocktails, and varsity jackets,” Davis said of his new partnership with Smirnoff. “We have three designers coming in to design some cool merch, got a chance to collab with these designers. There’s also a sweepstakes to win some of the merch, so we’re super excited about that. And then they also have me doing some live segments with DraftKings, as well.”
Davis is always looking for opportunities to expand his business portfolio, as he recently invested in G.O.A.T. Fuel, a premium sports energy drink company co-founded by another 49ers legend, Jerry Rice. The decision to work with these companies isn’t something Davis takes lightly, though, and he shared why he ultimately decided to partner with Smirnoff.
“To me, it’s all about the people,” Davis said. “Since I’ve been working with them, it’s been one of the best partnerships that I’ve ever had. Of course, it’s who they represent themselves as, but also them having the No. 1 vodka in the world, it’s just cool. It’s so cool to be a part of something so special and something that’s been around for so long … I get a chance to collab with designers, be a part of some cool parties that are meaningful. It’s like I’m living the dream.”
Fans will want to keep close tabs on the “We Do Game Days” platform, as exclusive merchandise drops and fan experiences are on the way. In order to stay up to date, fans can follow Davis on Instagram and check out Smirnoff’s website for the latest information on the platform.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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