John Lynch, 49ers ‘eternally grateful’ to first-responders for taking care of Ricky Pearsall

Sep 3, 2024, 2:55 PM | Updated: 3:05 pm

SANTA CLARA, CA - AUGUST 18: Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall #14 of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the field prior to an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints, at Levi's Stadium on August 18, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

(Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

The 49ers avoided a real-life scare over the weekend, with John Lynch and the entire organization feeling extremely blessed to see Ricky Pearsall still standing.

The San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver was a victim in an attempted robbery Saturday at Union Square. Pearsall was struck in the chest by a gunshot while the assailant attempted to steal his Rolex watch. Despite the seriousness of the matter, the 49er escaped the incident with no vital organs or bones injured, being discharged from San Francisco General Hospital less than 24 hours later.

The 49ers and Lynch acted swiftly by putting him on the Non-Football Injury List, meaning the rookie will miss the first four weeks of the 2024 regular season. But obviously, there was more at stake here than just football, as the 49ers’ general manager couldn’t express enough gratitude to the first-responders that looked after Pearsall.

“By the grace of God, Ricky Pearsall’s here.”

John Lynch’s opening remarks on the Ricky Pearsall situation pic.twitter.com/ooUQfxSLg9

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) September 3, 2024

“[Ricky Pearsall] just wants to express, and the team, wants to express gratitude to a variety of people. No.1: The San Francisco Police Department, they were incredible, incredible in their response at the hospital,” John Lynch said to the media Tuesday. “The folks down at San Francisco General, the care that they gave Ricky and his family, the respect, the way they handled things was just unbelievable. We’re eternally grateful for that.”

In lieu of the traumatic experience, Pearsall was surprisingly engaged on other matters taking place that night for the 49ers.

The Red & Gold held their annual roster party Saturday, the rookie and members of the 49ers’ coaching staff and front office were suppose to attend. That included Lynch as well. Instead, the 49ers’ GM had a nerve-wrecking ride to the hospital. Based on the limited information at the time, optics appeared dire.

“Sober,” Lynch said when asked to describe the feeling around the situation. “Never love it to get any call with regards to your players where they’re in danger. Earliest calls that I received were extremely scary. ‘We believe Ricky;’s been shot in the chest.’ That outcome is not usually good. It was a tough, tough Saturday, tough ride down to San Francisco General.”

But when he got to the SF General to check on Pearsall, the young man wanted to reassure Lynch that he would be okay and that his teammates should continue with their festivities.

“One of the first things he said, ‘Mr. Lynch, what’s going on? I’d really like everyone to go to that party, and I’d also like to talk to some of my teammates.’ I said, ‘well you take care of yourself.’ But kind of a cool moment, we were able to pipe Ricky into the party, FaceTime the entire group, and that show of love and respect was a real special moment for our team,” Lynch described.

And that moment was felt by everyone involved, including those not even in The Bay Area that night.

Trent Williams said that Ricky Pearsall’s shooting made him want to come back sooner more than anything.

He said he wanted to be there for the guys and around the team after the incident. #FTTB | #49ers pic.twitter.com/ZZ9uzoG1Yw

— Matt Lively (@mattblively) September 3, 2024

“To be real, I felt more compelled to come back after that than anything,” 49ers’ left tackle Trent Williams said about the shooting. “Because I’ve never experienced that like in my playing career, to have a teammate, you know, shot, so to speak. So in my mind, I’m like, ‘Man, I just want to get back, get around the team.'”

Williams would go on to depict his first interaction with Pearsall over the summer. The rookie wideout approached the All-Pro tackle during OTAs to introduce himself, immediately striking up a good rapport with one of the team’s captains.

“As soon as I seen that happen, I’m like, Man, I just want to be, you know, a voice in his ear, let him know everything will be alright and be here for the team,” Williams said.

Less than 72 hours later, Trent Williams was on a flight to Santa Clara, with his restructured deal with the 49ers now agreed upon.

For the time being though, Williams and the rest of the team won’t see Pearsall on the field. But of course, that wasn’t the rookie’s request, expressing his desire to get back out there as soon as possible after the incident.

“I think some of his earliest concerns is when he could play,” Lynch said about Pearsall with a chuckle. “He’s asking me, I don’t know. But, the surgeon was there and helping him through those type of thoughts. Ricky takes a lot of pride in being available. He continues to point out, ‘I promise I’m not injury prone.'”

Pearsall has been on and off the field since joining the 49ers due to shoulder and hamstring injuries. The former has kept him out the past three weeks; Now he’s faced with a whole different recovery.

Despite the circumstances, John Lynch expressed ultimate confidence that the rookie will see the field in 2024, even going as far to hint that the NFI decision was a bit premature because of timing. However, all parties involved agree it was the right call, allowing Pearsall the opportunity to fully heal all ailments before he is both physically and mentally ready to play football again.

“We had to get that quickly with that decision. I wish we had some more time to make it,” Lynch said about Pearsall. “But ultimately, we felt the No.1 thing we had to be concerned with was Ricky’s well-being, physically, emotionally, mentally. And ultimately decided that the best thing for Ricky was to have a little bit of time.”

49ers GM John Lynch talks about how Ricky Pearsall is doing following Saturday’s shooting. Says the rookie receiver encouraged the party that night and FaceTimed his teammates. Lynch calls him “a very fortunate young man.” pic.twitter.com/01UEm2FEQa

— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) September 3, 2024