The San Francisco 49ers’ signing of veteran wide receiver Mike Evans grabbed headlines this offseason, but the team also made a quieter addition—bringing in former Houston Texans wideout Christian Kirk.

Kirk enters his ninth NFL season after spending 2025 with the Texans. Before that, he played three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars and began his career with the Arizona Cardinals, where 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan had first-hand experience facing wideout.

“I’ve been a huge fan of Christian since he came out of college,” Shanahan said on Monday. “Hated going against him in Arizona.”

Speaking Tuesday at the NFL’s annual meetings in Phoenix, Arizona, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans offered insight into what San Francisco is getting in Kirk.

“A great young man,” Ryans said. “Really provided a lot to our locker room from a leadership standpoint, of helping out. We had a lot of young receivers this past year and thought Christian did a really good job of helping out those young guys. They’re able to lean on him and gain some of his insight and experience that he’s had from being a pro for a while.”

That leadership presence is likely a key reason the 49ers targeted Kirk. The team’s wide receiver room has undergone significant turnover, with departures including Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, and Skyy Moore, as well as the expected exit of Brandon Aiyuk, leaving a group that lacks considerable experience.

While Kirk had only 28 receptions for 239 yards and a single touchdown with the Texans last season, Ryans believes the veteran still has plenty to offer on the field. That was apparent in Houston’s two playoff games, when Kirk had 10 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns. An impressive 144 of those yards came against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round.

“He can still make a lot of plays for you, a guy who can really stretch the field, making plays,” Ryans continued. “Also, can do it from the slot perspective of running some of the choice routes and winning in man coverage.

“So, you’re getting a really talented, veteran guy, who’s a really good locker room leader, as well.”