A sixth-round pass-rushing tackle who overcame injury setbacks to become a full-time contributor in 2025.
Kalia Davis was part of UCF's celebrated national championship era before grinding through injuries early in his pro career. By 2025 he had emerged as a steady interior presence, playing in every game for the first time in his career.
Path to the league
Davis played for UCF from 2017 to 2021, part of the Knights' celebrated national championship squad, and moved from linebacker to defensive tackle during his college career. The San Francisco 49ers selected him with the 220th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Davis battled through a non-football injury designation as a rookie and limited availability in his first two seasons before recording his first career interception against Kansas City in Week 7 of 2024. Across his first four seasons he totaled 41 tackles, 1.5 sacks and an interception in 33 games.
2025 season recap
Davis broke through in 2025, appearing in all 17 regular-season games plus two playoff games for San Francisco and finishing with 28 combined tackles, three pass deflections and half a sack, easily his most productive season. He signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Cleveland Browns in March 2026.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Kalia Davis
- ESPN: Kalia Davis
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
17 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 49ers | 17 | 28 | 10 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2024 | 49ers | 13 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | 49ers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Group
- defense
- College
- UCF
- Hometown
- Pensacola, FL, USA
- Age
- 27
- Status
- active
