Vernon Davis tells TMZ Sports he was straight-up "hurt" when Washington's NFL team changed its nickname ... saying it felt like "part of me has been taken away."
"I grew up a Washington Redskins fan, right?" the ex-NFL tight end tells us. "I've always wanted to play for the team as a kid. I always had dreams and aspirations to play for that team."
"So, for them to change the name, it really hurt. It hurt deep down inside."
But, Davis -- who grew up in the D.C. area and ultimately played 4 seasons for Washington -- says he gets why Dan Snyder and Co.