Playing Ball, Vernon Davis
Playing Ball, Vernon Davis
List: $19.99 | Sale: $13.99
Club: $9.99

Playing Ball
Life Lessons from My Journey to the Super Bowl and Beyond

Author: Vernon Davis

Narrator: Vernon Davis

Unabridged: 7 hr 59 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Recorded Books

Published: 10/15/2024


Synopsis

NFL football star Vernon Davis delves into his astonishing career, from winning Super Bowl 50 in 2016 with the Denver Broncos to reinventing himself as an actor and producer, and recalls the hard-won lessons—including that infamous press conference—that paved his path to success.
INCLUDES AN INTRODUCTION FROM COACH MIKE SINGLETARY

In October 2008, after a San Francisco loss to Seattle, Vernon Davis was put on blast by Coach Mike Singletary in a fiery speech criticizing his “me-myself-and-I attitude.” It proved to be the turning point in Davis’s career, and the inspiration for him to change his mind set and his game plan, as well as his perspective on life and family.

At the time, Davis was a young, talented player drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2006 at number six, one of the highest drafted tight ends in NFL history. He played ten years for the 49ers, including a 2013 Super Bowl loss to the Baltimore Ravens in a 34–31 heartbreaker, where Davis recorded six catches for 104 yards.

He later won a Super Bowl in 2016 with Peyton Manning and the Broncos, after nailing a crucial downfield block that sprung teammate C. L. Anderson for a key 34-yard run that helped the Broncos defeat the Carolina Panthers 24–10 for the ring.

Davis retired in 2019 after four final years of playing for his hometown team in Washington, DC. He’s now deeply involved in his new passion for acting and producing. Here, he rewinds his real-life tape to reflect on his youthful beginnings, his career, and competitive spirit—and the insights on teamwork, leadership, and responsibility that came in the aftermath of Coach Singletary’s press conference that prompted Davis to transform his football career and his life for the better.

Weaving personal reflections with frank, real-world advice, Playing Ball is an eye-opening story of what winning—on the field and off—is all about.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Rajnish on February 06, 2025

Reading 'Playing Ball' felt like sitting down with the author, Vernon Davis, for a heartfelt conversation about his life, struggles, and successes. It's more than just an autobiographical sports memoir—it's a story about resilience, personal growth, and finding purpose beyond football. Through this b......more

Goodreads review by Allison on November 14, 2024

When Vernon Davis was playing in the NFL I was a big fan of his so I was excited to get a chance to read this. I always like hearing the other side of the story when it comes to NFL or any other athlete because they are so much more than just the sport. I do think this memoir could have used some ed......more

Goodreads review by Tanner on June 04, 2024

Playing Ball is a autobiographical look at the life of Vernon Davis. From his early days growing up in DC to his college life at the University of Maryland, to his 14 year career in the NFL with the 49ers, Broncos and Washington. One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the fact that it was to......more

Goodreads review by Julie on March 19, 2025

Playing Ball by Vernon Davis This story is a journal of sorts about Vernon who is also the author. From the beginning the thing that stuck with me was going to church every Sunday. My mother although not Catholic but married into a Catholic family, brought us to church and all other ceremonies over t......more

Goodreads review by Soochi on February 27, 2025

I am not a sports enthusiast, but I love reading memoirs with real-life lessons, as this would create a new world of relatability with a person you have known through media. My latest read, "Playing Ball: Life Lessons from My Journey to the Super Bowl and Beyond," was recommended by one of my friend......more