49ers’ Ricky Pearsall Gets Blunt Message After Win Over Cardinals
Posted September 22, 2025
The San Francisco 49ers have been hit hard with injuries to the wide receiver group heading into and through three games to start the 2025 NFL season. However, with players missing, Ricky Pearsall is allowed to step up and become a reliable target.
Pearsall recorded 400 receiving yards last season in 11 games for the 49ers, per Pro Football Reference. Nonetheless, the 25-year-old is close to reaching that mark in Year 2. He’s recorded 100-plus receiving yards in two of the three games he’s played this season. Additionally, his best performance came in the 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
Against Arizona, Pearsall recorded eight receptions for 114 receiving yards. One player who was impressed with the receiver’s performance was veteran Kendrick Bourne.
“Oh my goodness, man, he’s impressive,” Bourne said postgame (h/t KNBR). “Just coming in, the energy was so connective between us, just dancing and enjoying each other.
“We made a handshake so fast. I’m just proud of him. I told him his conditioning, his stamina, is top-tier. If he can play like that he’s going to have a great career. He’s going to get paid a lot of money.”
Ricky Pearsall Has Become the Go-to Guy for 49ers
Of the eight catches Pearsall made for the 49ers, the most impactful came in the fourth quarter. Pearsall got a clean release off the line on a crucial fourth-and-2 from the Cardinals’ 40-yard line and pulled in a 34-yard pass from quarterback Mac Jones, setting up Kyle Juszczyk’s go-ahead touchdown.
The University of Florida product has emerged as the team’s primary target. Jones threw to Pearsall a career-high 11 times, just four shy of Christian McCaffrey, who served as the safety net on most passing plays.
“I always think that we’re going to win,” Pearsall said when asked about the 49ers’ mentality heading into their game-winning drive (h/t NBC Sports Bay Area & California). “When we got the ball and we got two minutes left and we’re driving down the field, I have all the confidence in the world in Mac and entire offense to go down there and win the game for us.
“It really shows what kind of team we have to be able to go through adversity the entire game and the offense is able to put up points at the end to win the game.”
Ricky Pearsall Looks to Live Up to First-Round Pick Status
San Francisco chose Pearsall with the 31st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and for him, Sunday was simply another step in his professional growth. Each play in games and every practice rep helps the wide receiver develop into the player the 49ers hoped he would become.
“I’m building more and more confidence the more I’m playing, the more I’m practicing and getting reps in the offense; I’m very confident,” Pearsall said. “I’m super blessed and happy to be in this situation I am, especially considering the situation that I had to go through last year.
“There’s a lot of things to be happy and excited about each and every day. I wake up and I just remind myself of that every single day. There’s a lot to be thankful for.”
Sean Payton Chooses Legacy Over Statue: "It's About Giving Back, Not Just Commemorating the Past"
In an era where athletes and coaches often seek to immortalize themselves with monuments and statues,
Sean Payton, the legendary Denver Broncos head coach, has chosen a path of selflessness that speaks volumes about his character. In a move that has stunned the sports world, Payton recently turned down an offer for a statue outside
Mile High Stadium, a place he helped make famous, in favor of funding a new Denver Youth Center that will give future generations the tools they need to succeed.
Payton, who has led the Broncos through significant transformations and is regarded as one of the greatest coaches to ever wear the Broncos cap, explained his decision simply: "I don’t need a statue to remind me of my career. What I want is a legacy that impacts the future. It’s about giving kids a chance to dream big, just like I did." His words reflect not only his humility but his long-standing commitment to making a positive impact in his community, especially for young people.
The offer for the statue would have added Payton’s likeness to the already prestigious group of Broncos legends immortalized at Mile High Stadium, including John Elway and Terrell Davis
. The thought of joining such company was flattering, but for Payton, the decision was easy. "I’ve lived my dream on the field. Now it’s time to give the next generation the tools to live theirs. No statue can compare to that," he said.
This decision comes as no surprise to those familiar with Payton’s character. Throughout his career and in the years since his retirement, he has been a quiet philanthropist, focusing on youth sports and education. His foundation has provided scholarships and built football programs for inner-city kids, emphasizing the value of discipline, hard work, and community. Now, Payton is directing his energy and resources toward the construction of a youth center that will serve as a safe space for children to learn, grow, and pursue their dreams.
The new center will be located in an underserved neighborhood in Denver, and it will offer a wide range of programs, including after-school education, job training, and sports opportunities. This move aligns with the mission of the
Denver Centers for Youth & Families (DCYF), which provides essential services to the city's most vulnerable populations. The center will not only be a place for physical activity but a hub for community engagement, where children can access mentorship and career-building resources.
Payton’s decision is a testament to the idea that true greatness is measured not by statues or personal accolades, but by the impact you have on others. His legacy, which has already been cemented by his extraordinary coaching career, will now be extended in a new direction—one that ensures future generations of
Denverites have the same opportunities he did to succeed.
Broncos fans may never see Payton’s bronze likeness outside Mile High Stadium, but his decision ensures that his legacy will continue to influence and inspire long after he’s gone. "These centers aren’t just buildings; they’re where futures are forged," said
Angela M. Caughey, the Executive Director of DCYF, in response to Payton’s donation. And with that, Sean Payton, ever the team player, has proven that his greatest achievements will always be measured by how many lives he’s touched, not how much bronze his image is cast in.
In a world that often celebrates personal achievement above all else, Payton’s focus on giving back is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the greatest legacy we can leave behind isn’t one that’s immortalized in stone, but one that lives on in the hearts and minds of those we’ve helped.
