As TV screens all across the country flashed “the pick is in,” commissioner Roger Goodell took his stroll to the podium to announce what was the second-to-last pick of the evening.

“With the 31st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select Ricky Pearsall, Wide Receiver, Florida,” Goodell said. 

San Francisco and football fans across the nation were left in shock by the pick, as Pearsall wasn’t thought to be the best receiver still on the board, and it wasn’t a positional need by any means.  

As the 49er faithful began to get familiar with his college highlight reel that produced multiple one-handed grabs and meaningful touchdowns, excitement over the Arizona State and University of Florida alumni began to move through the Bay Area. 

The hype would quickly turn to concern for their new offensive weapon, as Pearsall was shot in the chest in San Francisco on Aug. 31st, 2024. Pearsall was walking through Union Square, a very popular location in the city, when a young man attempted to rob him of his watch. Pearsall fought back, and while he did suffer injuries, he miraculously made his NFL Debut in week 8 of the season, less than two months after the incident.

While it wasn’t the season Pearsall or the 49ers envisioned after just falling short of a Super Bowl victory the year prior, the first-round pick made waves as the season went on, coming up with three touchdowns as well as a 141-yard performance against the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football.

With his life-threatening event in the rear view mirror, Pearsall set his sights on the 2025 season. As training camp approached, Pearsall was raved about by his teammates, coaches, and the media. 

After being the third wide receiver on the depth chart, Pearsall needed to step it up for San Francisco in 2025, as wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was still recovering from an ACL tear, and wide receiver Deebo Samuel was traded in the offseason to the Washington Commanders. 

Through three weeks of the 2025 season, the 49ers are pushing through what has been another injury-ravaged season. Quarterback Brock Purdy has missed two of the first three games of the year with turf toe, and All-Pro tight end George Kittle was placed on short-term injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

What this meant for Pearsall was that he had to step up even further.

As of the morning of Sept. 22, Pearsall is third in the NFL in receiving yards with 281, but it’s not just the box score alone that has people turning their heads to the sophomore receiver. 

In week one, Pearsall made a dazzling catch over the shoulder of Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen in the fourth quarter of a tight game. This play would ultimately be the signature throw and catch of a game-winning drive that would lead the 49ers over the Seahawks in a nail-biter.

The same story applies in week three, as Pearsall flew down the sideline on fourth down in the fourth quarter of a tie game, this time leading to a scoring drive that would assist his team in taking down the Arizona Cardinals for their third win of the season.

The still undefeated San Francisco 49ers now set their sights on a Jacksonville Jaguars team that has a lot of offensive firepower, but the Bay Area can rest assured that their 2024 first-round pick can carry the load while other superstars get their rest and rehab on. 

Ricky Pearsall’s story is one of resilience and perseverance, and while he looks to be a mainstay in the 49ers offense for years to come, his story will always be much more than that.