Fresh off a rebound season in Washington, the Redskins have brought back Vernon Davis. In 2016, the Maryland product caught 44 passes for 583 yards and two touchdowns.
Following the conclusion of his first season with the Washington Redskins, one in which he was able to return to his hometown and play for the team he grew up loving, Vernon Davis said he wanted to stay put for years to come.
"A second year, third year, fourth year, you name it," Davis said at the time. "Whatever they want to do, whatever they want to do I'm all about."
On Wednesday, the return became a reality, as the team announced it has re-signed Davis. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
After a difficult 2015 season in which he was traded midseason from the San Francisco 49ers to the Denver Broncos, falling out of favor with the eventual Super Bowl champions, Davis signed with the Redskins last March.
There was some outside uncertainly as to how much the 2006 first-round pick had left in the tank. But from Day 1, Davis looked like he still had a lot left to accomplish.
In 16 games, Davis recorded 44 receptions for 583 yards and two touchdowns, giving Washington a lethal one-two punch at the tight end position alongside Jordan Reed.
"I know there was a lot of speculation about me being able to play the game still," Davis said. "A lot of people saying I was getting older, this and that. Of course that was fire, it fueled me to continue to go forward. But I felt like I just fell in love with the game all over again. I wouldn't trade that for anything. When I arrived here, I was like, 'Wow, these guys are full of energy.' A bunch of young guys who have a lot of energy; a ton of energy. I just started to feed off that, and felt that love and that passion for the game all over again. It's been beautiful and I'm extremely excited."
Check out images of tight end Vernon Davis during his first few months with the Washington Redskins.
Davis was one of eight Redskins players to record at least 500 yards from scrimmage, tying the 2011 New Orleans Saints for most players in one season in NFL history.
The Maryland product also became the 12th tight end in NFL history with 500 career receptions and is now 11th all-time in receiving yards among players at the positon with 6,424.
For his career, the 31-year-old has caught 505 passes for 6,424 yards and 57 touchdowns. He is also a two-time Pro Bowler.
But Davis' contributions go beyond the field, as the 12-year veteran provided the tight ends room with a competitive leader.
"Vernon Davis has been a great asset to us; he has only pushed me to be a better tight end," said Niles Paul in February. "I felt us kind of all feeding off each other J-Reed, Derek [Carrier], Vernon and me. We kind of elevated our games in the weight room and on the practice field we are catching extra passes, running extra routes, lifting extra heavy, and everybody was trying to outdo each other. That's the type of competition you have to have. That's how you create a great tight end cores, great offenses, and great teams."
