How 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir came up with his nickname ‘The Hyena’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Deommodore Lenoir is carrying more than just confidence into the upcoming 2025 NFL season. The 49ers cornerback also brings one of the best nicknames on San Francisco’s roster: “The Hyena.”
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And in the premiere episode of the team’s web series “The Build,” released Wednesday, Lenoir claimed the inspiration for the moniker struck him after one of his most memorable plays as a pro.
“I gravitated toward [the nickname] … after the Philly game, when I made that big hit,” the fifth-year pro said, referencing his crushing blow on Philadelphia Eagles running back D’Andre Swift in Week 13 of the 2023 NFL season.
After the 49ers’ 42-19 victory, Lenoir’s teammates got the ball rolling.
“They was kinda like, ‘You need a name’,” Lenoir said. “I wanted to be an animal. I started looking back at all the animals. It’s honey badgers, it’s bears, it’s lions. [There] ain’t no hyena. So, that’s how I came up with that.”
The nickname certainly is befitting of Lenoir and his aggressive style of play at corner. In 2024, Lenoir did not allow a touchdown pass, and he has tallied eight career interceptions (including the NFL playoffs) entering 2025.
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The 49ers surely are counting on “The Hyena” to play a key role in a defensive turnaround from 2024, when San Francisco’s unit finished 29th in opponents’ points per game and generated just 17 takeaways, tied for seventh-fewest in the NFL.
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