Throughout the month of July, the Last Word on Sports NFL department has been taking a look at the three most recognizable faces for each NFL team. For this series, we’re only considering active players. Today, we will be focusing on the 2019 San Francisco 49ers.
2019 San Francisco 49ers: Faces of the Franchise
Joe Staley
Joe Staley enters into his 13th season in the NFL, all of which have been in San Francisco. He is the longest-serving 49er and is the last remaining starter on the team from the line up that took them to a Super Bowl. During that time, Staley has been voted to six Pro Bowls and three second-team All-Pro teams. It’s fair to say, based off accolades alone, Staley has had a successful NFL career, however long it continues.
Staley started his college football career as a tight end, moving to offensive line in his second year. The speed and agility for his size have always translated to his play in the NFL. Many 49ers remember his key block against the New Orleans Saints that was pivotal in sending the 49ers to an NFC Championship game in the 2011 post-season.
Mein Lieblingplay von Joe Staley (#74) war mit Abstand dieser Block 2012 in der Divisional Round gegen die Saints.
Was für ein Athlet!#ranNFL #49ers pic.twitter.com/mQYAfyNlDk— James Wiebe (@James_Wiebe) June 12, 2019
This skill also allowed Staley to perform on tackle eligible plays during his time in the NFL.
Joe Staley is a legend ?#49ers pic.twitter.com/nFYt6LZ5bE
— ourSF49ers (@OSf49ers) June 13, 2019
It’s unsure how much longer Staley can last in the league but while he is still performing at this level, there’s no doubt the 49ers will hope he sticks around for a while longer. While I’m not sure he has done enough to warrant a Hall of Fame gold jacket, he will certainly be in the 49ers Ring of Honor.
Richard Sherman
Rewind five years and Richard Sherman was making plays for San Francisco’s rival Seattle Seahawks and beating the 49ers to send the Seahawks on their way to a Super Bowl in which they obliterated the Broncos. That season he was first-team All-Pro, led the NFL in interceptions and was the face of the Seahawks.
Back then, if you told a 49ers fan that a few years later they would be cheering for Sherman, the heel of the legion of boom, they wouldn’t have believed you. Fast forward back to now and he is one of the first names you think of when you think of the 49ers.
It hasn’t been plain sailing since Sherman joined San Francisco. Sherman has struggled with injuries but still managed 14 games last season. He is yet to register an interception but this is in part due to the fact he is so far superior to his other defensive backs. As such, quarterbacks don’t feel the need to test Sherman. He will look to bounce back this season and secure some interceptions and continue to be the lockdown corner he was in Seattle.
Richard Sherman denies Tyreek Hill ?
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/FK8qkoH7QE
— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2018
George Kittle
The final face is not quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo but breakout tight end star George Kittle. In just his second season, he set the tight end record for receiving yardage in a season. All this with only three games with starting quarterback Garoppolo, rotating through backups C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens after Garoppolo’s season-ending injury.
The accolades don’t stop there, as he was also the first tight end to lead the league in yards after catch. Showing off the incredible athleticism that gave him the highest SPARQ score in a tight end class that included Evan Engram.
YAC galore for George Kittle on this 85-yard catch! #GoNinerspic.twitter.com/8AElzsuZ93
— LastWordOnNFL (@LastWordOnNFL) December 9, 2018
All this is made even more impressive when you consider that Kittle is a standout blocker unlike his receiving threat counterpart tight ends. Kittle attended Iowa and played in an offensive scheme that relies heavily on tight ends that can block to help the run game. Even in his best season at Iowa, he only had 310 receiving yards. In fact, he had more receiving yards last season in the NFL than he did in his entire four-year college career.
George Kittle has a 64 run block grade in @EAMaddenNFL ? pic.twitter.com/dc7N47nuzG
— TheSFNiners (@TheSFNiners) October 11, 2018
