SANTA CLARA — Just over one year after Ricky Pearsall was shot during an attempted robbery in San Francisco, the 49ers wide receiver returned to the city to attend the Golden State Valkyries game on Sunday night at Chase Center.
Alongside the 49ers’ first-round pick of the 2024 NFL Draft was Pearsall’s girlfriend Tori Moraga, George and Claire Kittle and Kyle and Kristin Juszczyk. The introduction of the players on the jumbotron was in stark contrast to where Pearsall was when trying to start his first NFL season.
At the beginning of Monday’s practice during the team huddle, Trent Williams shared a special handshake with the young receiver before the group split up for individual drills. After the “bonus practice,” the All-Pro left tackle spoke about his young teammate.
“I’m just super grateful to have him here,” Williams said. “The way that situation worked out, he’s so blessed and I’m super happy for him. Obviously, it does a lot to reflect that there’s a lot to be thankful for.
“That’s not a run-of-the-mill thing you go through as a citizen of America. The fact that he’s here, and he’s playing at an extremely high level, and doing what he loves to do, and doing what he dreamed to do. I think it’s just a blessing.”
There were huge expectations for Pearsall as the 49ers’ first-round pick last year, but after the preseason incident, any contributions were taken as a positive. The fact that the Florida product was on the field for 11 games — four as a starter — was a win.
Williams is impressed by how Pearsall, who has said he’s open to meeting the young shooting suspect, has handled everything since being drafted by the 49ers.
“Especially going through what he went through and still having a positive outlook,” Williams said. “Not even just on that, but on the person who did it to him, just his outlook. We’ve had a conversation about it.
“It’s refreshing to come across a guy that, in this world we live in, where [there are] so many issues and everybody wants to harp on what’s going on, somebody who actually lives with forgiveness, and doesn’t really look at himself like a victim, and is still willing to share his story to help others. He’s just a godsend.”
On Sunday, Pearsall will have a chance to show the NFL world how far he has come since the start of his first pro season. The 24-year old has become Brock Purdy’s No. 1 target after working with the quarterback during the offseason, and with the wide receiver position in flux to start the 2025 NFL season, Pearsall’s production will be more important than ever.
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