49ers Special Teams Coordinator Raves About Robbie Gould & Mitch Wishnowsky Thursday

Special teams players rarely get the recognition they deserve, but Sunday in Denver, they were the stars of the show for the 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos combined for 17 punts during Week 3’s Sunday night clash. An astonishing number considering both teams scored fewer points individually, 11 and 10.

Despite the lackluster performance from the 49ers, a star was born Sunday in punter Mitch Wishnowsky.

The Australian-born punter boomed seven punts away at Mile High, with three of those being inside the 20-yard line. His longest punt went for 74 yards Sunday, the longest so far this season.

Wishnowsky’s performances through the first month were good enough to earn him September’s NFC Special Teams Player of the Month award this week, an award that his coaches know has been a long time coming.

49ers getting a bargain with Mitch Wishnowsky’s new contract so far: NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.

SF is #2 in punt DVOA. 8 pinned inside the 20. Wishnowsky’s contract ranks #8

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) September 29, 2022

“A lot of pride, I’m really happy for him. He’s worked extremely hard and he knows it takes all those guys in there from [Taybor Pepper] snapping and Robbie [Gould’s] input and really all the guys in there. So just really happy for Mitch, well deserved,” special teams coordinator Brian Schneider said Thursday.

“The Boomin’ Onion” signed a four-year extension with San Francisco this month, keeping him with the 49ers through the 2026 season.

#49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky wins NFL Special Teams Player of Month — for a second straight September

Of his 14 punts, 8 went inside 20-yard line, 6 pinned foes inside the 10–yard line

Of his 14 punts, 7 were last game at Denver

His net average (43.3 yards) ranks 11th

— Cam Inman (@CamInman) September 29, 2022

As for his kicker, Robbie Gould is entering the final stages of his illustrious career, spanning from the 2005 season with Chicago to now with the Red & Gold. But don’t tell him that.

The 39-year-old placekicker is still putting in the hours of film and adjustment with the coaches, a student of the game, according to Schneider.

“Well Robbie is into everything. You know, he loves to watch football. He knows football. So really, not only is he a specialist and a kicker, but but he likes looking, breaking down everything,” Schneider explained. “So he likes to look at the kickoff return of the opponent, and you know, he’ll come give me notes so it’s great. Yeah, he likes all that stuff.”

Normally, special teams players tend to have a singular focus on themselves or others in a similar position. Not Gould. He’s focused on the special teams unit as a whole, breaking down film and eating it up like a kid on Christmas morning.

“[It’s] very unique,” Schneider added. “Most kickers obviously watch themselves and they watch all the kickers throughout the league…Not many of them that I’ve been around, break down the ‘Big Four’ or the frontline on kickoff return or anything like that, but he really loves it, he enjoys it.”

To watch the full press conference with Brian Schneider, click here.

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