Why Davis believes Harbaugh can spark a 49ers-like turnaround in Los Angeles originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Former 49ers tight end Vernon Davis knows exactly what first-year Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh brings to the table after spending four years together in San Francisco.
During an interview on “No meeting podcast“With Brian Renick and Al Sacco, Davis broke down exactly what makes Harbaugh such a special leader and why he believes his former coach can deliver a quick turnaround in his first season with the Chargers, as he did after taking the job . 49ers job in 2011.
“Harbaugh has the ability to get guys behind him,” Davis told Renick and Sacco. “His energy, his enthusiasm, everything he brings – when he comes in the morning, you know what you’re going to get. it just has the ability to do so.
“He figured that out, and I think that’s how he’s been able to achieve the widespread success that he’s had both in college and in the pros, because of who he is and what he stands for. The guys understand this, they see it. He’s holding everyone accountable.
“He is that leader, he is that piece that every team knows they need. If we don’t do what he says, he’s going to hold us accountable and they know that, and I think that’s what we had. We understood that and managed to come together and win some games. We had a coach who was the real deal.”
Davis suffered many losses early in his NFL career after being selected by San Francisco in the first round of the 2006 draft, with the 49ers posting a 33-47 record in his first five seasons in the league before Harbaugh’s arrival.
In Harbaugh’s first season, San Francisco went 13-3 and narrowly missed out on a Super Bowl berth after a heartbreaking overtime loss to the New York Giants in the 2011 NFC Championship Game.
Despite the difficult ending, the 2011 49ers also provided one of the most memorable playoff moments in NFL history, culminating in an incredible touchdown reception by Davis to beat the New Orleans Saints.
San Francisco would win 70 percent of its regular season games under Harbaugh, making three consecutive appearances in the NFC Championship Game from 2011 to 2013.
With Harbaugh returning to an NFL sideline For the first time in a decade, the Chargers are hoping their beloved coach can provide their franchise with the same lightning rod effect he had when he arrived in the Bay Area in 2011.
