June 5, 2025 • 22 mins
Breaking down the 49ers biggest contract extensions and what we’ve seen so far in offseason training activities.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
What's up, Faithful?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome back to the forty nine Ers First and ten
podcasts presented by Cisco. I'm your host, Brian McDonald, sitting
down with forty nine Ers team reporter Lindsay Polaris. Today
we're talking contract extensions. We've got three locked in guys.
Also some updates from OTAs here at Levi Stadium. Lindsay,
I want to know your first reaction when you saw
quarterback Brock Party, linebacker Fred Warner, and tight end George
(00:29):
Kittle all locked in for quite a long time here
in San Francisco.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Faithful, I think you got exactly what you wanted. That
was my first thought, right like Christmas exactly. But it's
not even July, so that doesn't even work here.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Yeah, three major contract extensions. George Kittle here through the
twenty twenty nine season, Brock Party through twenty thirty, Fred
Warner through twenty twenty nine. Again, a big congratulations to
the fan base because I know that there's been so
many social media comments on post and everything about well
just the excitement of having the stability of these now
(01:04):
three veterans here for many many years to come, and
again vocal leaders in the locker room, and also just
tremendous accolades from all three on the field. So I think,
you know, it's nice to just have that have.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Done very early in the off season.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
I think when you talk about Fred Warner and George Kittle,
you know, if everything goes well in the way everyone
wants it to be, you're gonna have two players that
make that forty nine ers ten year wall. George Kittle
drafted in twenty seventeen, so he'll hit his tenth season
in twenty twenty seven, and then Fred Warner drafted one
year later in twenty eighteen. He'll hit that ten year
(01:41):
mark in twenty twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
It would be awesome to see their faces on that
ten year wall in the hallways. There are such staples
here in the Bay and for the fan base and
for all of the team here. That would be just
amazing honors for each of them. And they are very
soon to come. We shall see. But let's give each.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Player some love.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Let's start in chronological order with tight end George Kittle
locked in for four years through the twenty twenty nine season.
I think the fans know he just has such a
unique personality and you see it in the media, and
that's exactly what he's like out on the field, Lindsey,
What is he like in person? And how much of
a star is he? Every single day you see him.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
You're gonna get one hundred and fifty percent energy with
George Kittle at any moment of the day, whether it's
on the field off the field, And I do think
that that is an infectious energy, and especially when you're
coming off of a season that we all know it
didn't go as planned, not how anyone would have liked,
but really, I think George Kittle sets the tone for
(02:41):
the excitement that this team is trying to have coming
into this very early part of the off season, the
off season workout programs to get everybody amped for what's
to come.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
So yeah, I can't say enough about George Kittle.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Obviously, his just performance on the field is really unmatched.
He's a tight end that can really do anything that
you want. He can catch beastes, he's one of the
best run blockers, like he is your sixth offensive lineman
and he's you know, there's nothing really more you could
ask of George Kittle, I believe coming off of was
it an eleven touchdown season, So again, he continues to
(03:17):
just elevate his game, and you know, I think obviously
given a four year extension, you're going to see a
lot more of that to come.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Not only does he have a unique personality which we
all know and love, but he's such a unique football player.
Kyle Shannas Kyle Shanahan said, he's a Hall of Fame
pass catcher and Hall of Fame blocker. It's really cool
digging into his roots and seeing how he was coached
up back in Iowa and with his dad. He said
when he was younger, he always wanted to be an
offensive lineman.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
You know, all the kids.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Running around on the football field, they want to be
the quarterback, they want to be the receiver. But he
saw offensive line as that star power out on the field.
And so when your tight end's roots are in run blocking,
I mean, it just goes to show how amazing he
is out on the field. So very unique player. We
give major props to George. We're excited to see what
he does this year. Now, moving on shortly after we've
(04:05):
got Brock party qbye Yeah, locked in. I mean, talk
about what a crazy moment that is for a franchise.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
I do believe.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
I said this in a podcast earlier in the offseason.
There is a Brock Party movie that is being written
as we speak right, one of the best stories in
the NFL.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Picked two sixty two, seventh.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Round of the twenty twenty two NFL Draft, signs of
five year extension. He is now a franchise quarterback for
the San Francisco forty nine ers.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I don't really think it gets better than this, and like,
how cool is it to hear franchise quarterback Brock Party?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
And you know, I think, what's one thing is interesting.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
I was not here when Brock Party was drafted, because
I came a.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Couple of months after.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
But tell us about what that moment was like for
this franchise, because again, this was at a time where
there was another quarterback in place.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
It was so interesting because you know, working behind the
scenes of a draft, it's really cool to see all
the players that come in, all the media members. Behind
the scenes, we've got these whiteboards up on the wall.
Especially when it comes to the first round. We didn't
have a first round pick. I think that draft class
but we're saying, okay, who do we think is getting projected.
We're doing what all the media members do in the
national news and trying to draw names in colleges to
(05:17):
different teams. But when we get all the way down
to the final round of the draft, not only I'm
sure is the GM exhausted looking at all these players,
but so are the staff members here on the media team,
because we're out here making articles and interviewing each guy
that comes in. And so we get down to number
two sixty two, literally mystery relevant.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I don't pick you that draft.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
We're like, okay, let's see where this goes.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
You know it's gonna be oh yeah, maybe we'll see
him for OTAs, Maybe we'll see him around for a
training camp, but who knows.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Usually they don't stick around.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
So us in the back end we're like, let's get
someone with like a really cool name.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Someone but I do want to catch you. I catch
you name, that's it.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
We're like, how can we market this guy on the
media team. And then when it says quarterback brought pretty
like a quarterback? Interesting, Okay, let's see where this goes.
Little did we know that he'd become QB one and
so it's really cool to see his story and his progression. Lindsay,
you've covered him though ever since he came in as starter.
What's it been like to see him develop as a
(06:19):
quarterback but also a leader of this team.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Yeah, I think we saw you know, obviously we don't
get I don't get to stay out there for all
of practices, right, but I think the first signs of
greatness that you know, you see at training camp that
things are going well for Brock. Then you see him
in a preseason game and you know he's very talented.
It's just obviously, when you're sitting behind two quarterbacks, it's
about when and you know if at some times if
(06:44):
you're going to get that opportunity. That opportunity came week
thirteen of his rookie season, and truly it was so seamless.
It really is a story that is made for a movie.
And then you see him get his first career start
in Week fourteen against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against no
other than the Goat. I would say, Tom Brady, you know,
(07:06):
able to get a win there, and then it just
kind of never really stopped. Right. His rookie year takes
this team to an NFC championship game. The following year
to a Super Bowl. It's just only gone up for
Brock Party. And he owns so many franchise records for
passing yards and you know, I think it's a completion
(07:26):
percentage as well.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
And then he's got some league records as well.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
So I mean, I'm so excited for the story that
it continues to be written about Brock Party. He has
only gotten better. And you know, way too early in.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Otiz to say anything, but really it looks like he
hasn't skipped to beat and I wouldn't expect him to.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, And it's so refreshing for this team especially, I
mean the Niners. No quarterback uncertainty here and there there's
been a lot of downtimes with not knowing.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Who exactly is the leader of this offense.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Even when Rock Party was here and he had that
injury after the NFC Championship. We've gone through a lot
of ups and downs as a forty nine Ers family
here on the offense. Just how cool is it to
be going into this season locked in with a QB one,
knowing that he's ready to take the charge and keep going.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
He talked a little bit about it.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
In his press conference, saying how last off season it
was really cool just to get a full, real off
season and then just adding on top of that calling
him QB one, having the whole team supporting him. How
refreshing is that for this franchise.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
He continues to grow in his role as a leader, right,
And I think that comes with age, that comes with
feeling comfortable. Obviously, that stability that a five year contract
extension brings. I can only imagine that there's just security
that I'm going to be here for a long time.
I don't think anyone's ever questioned Brock Party's competitive edge
or his commitment to this franchise, So I think it
(08:46):
just like really amplifies those things. And I think for
the team, you know, he has earned their respect long
before this extension. And I think one of my favorite
things Kyle Shanahan said was that they don't expect Brock
Party to be doing anything different, like he.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Was awarded, not awarded, he earned.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
That contract extension because they deeply appreciate the leader that
he is and they don't need him to do anything different.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
They just need him to continue being Brock Party.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
And you know, another thing that Shanahan said was that
he has handled himself in the most professional way and
continued to be the same Brock that was in contract
negotiations out of contract negotiations before this was even in
the picture. And again, that's what they want from him
because he's done all the right things, and really it's
just about continuing to do those right things.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
He's obviously young. It's great to like have.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
A quarterback that's in place to continue to be the
franchise leader. And I think you're seeing that chemistry that's
already been built. I think of Juwan Jennings that we
saw at OTAs earlier this week, took on an expanded
role in twenty twenty four because of injuries, and you
see how comfortable he is with brock Perty and how
comfortable brock Party is with Juwan Jennings. There is trust
(10:00):
there and they haven't skipped to beat either. Like that
connection undeniable on the field and again.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Very really no tas, no pads. You know for some
of the for elemnon leven drills, there weren't even helmets on.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
But you see those interactions happening and it just looks comfortable.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah, exactly. I think George talked about it too in
his press conference during OTAs.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
It's really cool just to have the whole.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Team all together during the off season, especially this early
in the off season, not only because of the drills
happening on the field, but you said they could go
catch a movie after practice, they could go out on
the golf field. So they're building that trust and those
bombs that have been building over time. I can'trait to
see it all come into flow where they're in that
huddle on a game day. You're gonna see it just
(10:42):
grow and expand over the years. So Rock Party was
simply given exactly what he deserved this off season. So
huge congratulations to our QB one. Now literally we talked
about how fast Rock Party came after George Kittle.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Two days days later we got linebacker Fred Warren.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
There are also another contract extension. This was just like
the cherry on top of it all, three year extension through.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
The twenty twenty nine season.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Lindsey, he's a respected player on and off the field,
and he's so consistent. I think whenever I think about
Fred Warner, those videos of him leading the huddle before
every single game day pop into my head. I'm sure
the faith will also resonate with those just talk about
how consistent he is as a leader.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
I mean vocal leader.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
That's Fred Warner, right, And I know I keep jumping
to ots and we are going to get that. But
an anecdote to really illustrate this, Fred Warner, you know,
along with a number of other bets, taking on a
little bit of a reduced role in that first OTA
practice that I was able to attend on Thursday. So again,
there's so many other practices that are closed to media,
(11:45):
So take this with a grain of salt. But not
practicing but on the sidelines there, but actively coaching up
all those young linebackers, including third round pick linebacker Nick Martin.
A lot of enthusiasm from those guys to be learning
from Fred Warner because he's the old standard, right. This
is someone that was voted a unanimous All Pro. That
means across the board, everyone thought he deserved that All
(12:07):
Pro first team nod and that really just like speaks
to you know, the type of leader, the exact type
of linebacker you want to become as a young player.
You have somebody that you he set the blueprint, right,
so all you got to do is follow it, copy
that work ethic and just be a sponge, learn what
you can from Fred Warner, and that's that's the type
(12:28):
of player that you have on the field.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Yeah, and for Fred Water and also George Kittle, this
isn't their first contract extension, so I think it just
goes to show how much the organization values these two leaders.
We talked about it at the top of the podcast,
putting their face up on that ten year wall. It's
really cool to see how the team drafts these players,
digs a lot deep into who they are as people
(12:49):
drafts them, develops them, and now they're stars, and not
just the forty nine ers, but the entire league. They're
the gold standard across linebackers, tight ends. I just want
to know what's been your favorite Fred Warner memory throughout
all the years he's been here. He's been the skinny
Fred Warner with the long hair coming out of the helmet.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
It's gone even longer now.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
I wasn't here for those years, but it's.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
I mean, it's pretty cool to see how he's grown
to be a leader of this defense.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
Yeah, I want to say, I mean, honestly, I loved
the Fred Warner pick six. I just remember where he
collapses d yes like I think that might be the
best Fred Warner play I've ever seen. I love how
electrified Levis Stadium was, and it's.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Just I always think.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
I think interceptions are great, especially when they're by non
DB's non safeties.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
I love the like rush forward too. It was great.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
And again, like you said, laps in the end zone
definitely just a hallmark Fred Warner play.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
I would say, yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
And talk about being in the face of a franchise.
You can never forget that time in Mexico City when
he's running out with the flag.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
That was cool for the Latino fan base.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Also, I mean shout out to Fred Warner again, congratulations
on his contract extension. Now we've been talking a little
bit here and there about OTAs, but let's dive a
little bit deeper onto that first open practice that we
got to see. It's phase three of OTAs.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
So no hard contact.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
I mean, even George said it, it's hard to run
block when you ain't got the pads on and you
can't be hitting people. But it's still fun to be
back out on the field and to be getting back
into football. We're seeing seven on seven drills, we're seeing
nine on seven drills, helmet on helmet off, it looks like.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Yeah, like from the again one open practice at this point,
eleven on eleven drills didn't have helmets on, but then
at some portions of position drills, individual drills, we did
see helmets on.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
So it was a pretty big mix.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Especially during these practices, media members and myself were allowed
to watch all of it, but only record part of it.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
So what you're seeing on.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Social media just bits and pieces of that open portion
of the workout.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Okay, cool, Well let's talk about what the energy is
like on the field. If you're to take the fans
out onto the field, what would you describe the vibe
to them? Like, we're not hearing the pads crash, but
how are the players feeling being back out here at
the SEP performance Facility.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
I mean, I don't think there's a better way to
describe it than how Kittles said it. The vibes are immaculate.
He ismaculated, his words, not mine. So vibes are up right,
and I think that's really important. I think obviously this
is an organization that has seen many a deep playoff run.
You think about twenty one, twenty two to twenty three,
you were at an NFC championship or better for three
(15:29):
straight seasons, I think, especially after that twenty twenty three season.
Kyle Shanahan also said this, you know, the Super Bowl
doesn't work out exactly how you want it to, and
then that's mid February and you've got to turn around
and get ready for the start of an offseason workout
program just a number of weeks later. Right, There's no
way that your body's not tired. There's no way that
(15:49):
there's a mental aspect too, And I can't even pretend
to know what that is, Like, I'm not you know,
stooting up every Sunday, but that's an aspect of it too.
And given the longer off season, you had more of
a recharge period. And I do think you know, one
thing Kyle Shanahan really did emphasize that was an impressive
thing and something he was really looking at his team
(16:12):
to respond in the way they responded in the way
he wanted to is that, you know, the season ended
early January, he had a talk with them and you know,
really emphasize the importance of being present in Santa Clara
for the start of this offseason workout program, and the
team delivered, right I think the number we've heard thrown
around is ninety nine percent attendance for Phase one, and
(16:33):
that's fantastic, And you know a number of players, whether
it's Rock, whether it's Fred George saying that that really
does make all the difference. It sets the tone for
the type of offseason workout programs you want to have,
and especially on a year where there was a decent
amount of turnover, right we saw a number of players
leave in free agency, you do need that veteran leadership
(16:54):
to show either the new faces the rookies because there
were eleven draft picks and also a number of undrafted
players added to the organization of how things are done
around here. So I think it all feeds into what
the Niners wanted for this offseason and it's on track.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Yeah, what I would say.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
It's really cool to see that manifest because Kyle Shanahan
when he set the team down in January, obviously the
season didn't end exactly how we hoped it to, but
when he saw that, he shared with the team that
he wants them to be back in the building for
the early off season because there's going to be, like
you said, a lot of turnover. A lot of new
rookies in the mix now, and he wants those leaders
to show up and show how to set the tone
(17:32):
for all the new guys. Not everyone on this roster
has been through a lot of what Fred Warner George
Kittle have been through those hard seasons, and they know
what an off season takes to.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Go and do a Super Bowl run.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
So it's really cool to see that standard reset. But
also what's really cool is that when he saw everyone
back in the building during phase one of OTAs, he said, Okay,
I knew I got the right guys. He's been knowing
that he's had the right guys, But he's really cool.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
It's really cool to see those.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Leaders show up and show out for the first OTA sessions.
Now we've got defensive corodinator Robert Sala, Offensive coronator Klaiy Kubiak,
Special Teams coronator Brant Boyer all in the scene, So
it's cool to see those new coaches back in action.
What injuries should we keep an eye on as ots
are going on?
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Yeah, just a few to note here. Safety gy R.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
Brown did have an ankle procedure is not expected to
be ready to be back in action until training camp,
and not the same type of injury. Ricky Pearsall also
tweaked his hamstring. According to Kyle Shanahan, he's expected to
be healthy in time for MIDI Caamp, which is next week,
so that's coming up pretty fast. But given just where
they are in the offseason workout programs, I would not
(18:41):
expect him to and he said as well, don't expect
him to really be out there. We're just too close
to the end of everything. Another rookie injury, Marquis Siegel,
he will be dealing with something until training camp they
expect as well. And Alfred Collins, which was a forty
nine or second round pick, has a caffin.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
He's week to week right now. So those are the
ones to keep an eye out on.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Awesome, Okay, thanks for the updates there. Also cool to
see that we got around that that number was thrown
around ninety nine percent attendance, so a lot of faces
back in the building. What are some of the best
takeaways he took from that open practice. It was a
short amount of time, but what really stood out to you?
Speaker 4 (19:18):
Well, I think if you're looking for Christian McCaffrey updates,
I do have one CMC looks like twenty twenty three CMC,
which I think should be welcome news by a lot
of people. Speed, the burst, it's all there. It just
looks as if you know, he's really healthy. We heard
that echoed by Shanahan as well. Healthy as can be
(19:38):
was the direct quote. So I think a really really
happy thing to know this early in the off season.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
I think that was the expectation.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
So right on track with CMC, especially after just dealing
with a number of achilles and knee injuries in twenty
twenty four. I know that that is a big relief
for him and also the organization as a whole on
the offense. I think another thing, first time we saw
our new specialist trio in action. Thomas Morestead was signed
on Wednesday. That open practice was on Thursday, so we
(20:06):
saw him, John Weeks, Jake Moody all practicing to the
side together. It's a completely new operation, so I imagine
they are just getting well acquainted with each other.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
I mentioned this earlier.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
Rock pretty Juwan Jennings looking like they're in mid season form.
I think wide receiver Jordan Watkins is someone to highlight
as well. I was really watching him during just quarterback
and receiver drills. Again, no defenses out there with them
at this point, but he looks fast. He was under
a four four forty and you see that speed on
(20:38):
the fields. He looks pretty fluid for this early in
the off season. I think that is something of note.
I think those are my big ones, and I think
you know, mikel Williams, I know we've seen a number
of clips of him on social media, a lot of explosiveness.
I know that is going to make all of the
D line enthusiasts very happy. So I think things are
progressing really well. Again, we are so early in the
(21:01):
off season. Please don't make any uh any big predictions
off this, but I do think they are positive updates.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Yeah, it's just a taste of football, but it's awesome
as we can inch closer and closer to the preseason
and training camp. But lindsay, thank you so much for
sharing your takeaways from that first open practice. Also, for
our next episode, we're going to be covering mandatory Mini camp.
So the difference between OTAs and then mandatory Mini camp
is that there's not that much of a difference. It's
just that mandatory Mini camp is now mandatory, So a.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Lot of the other players in the building.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Yes, everyone should be in the building, but Lindsay, thank
you so much for sharing with OTA updates and also
going over our contract extensions. We've talked a lot about
it on this podcast, but if you want to see
all of it in action, head over to our forty
nine ers social media pages and our forty nine ers
YouTube page. You get to see a little clips from highlights,
clips and highlights from practices and OTAs. We also get
(21:52):
really cool het videos for Fred, George and Brock, so
go check out all of the content on all of
our pages there. Head over to forty nine ers dot
com ferend practice updates. Also subscribe to First Intent on Spotify, Apple, podcasts,
and YouTube for any more updates from us.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
And we'll see you next time. Hi guys,
What's up, Faithful?
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Welcome back to the forty nine Ers First and ten
podcasts presented by Cisco. I'm your host, Brian McDonald, sitting
down with forty nine Ers team reporter Lindsay Polaris. Today
we're talking contract extensions. We've got three locked in guys.
Also some updates from OTAs here at Levi Stadium. Lindsay,
I want to know your first reaction when you saw
quarterback Brock Party, linebacker Fred Warner, and tight end George
(00:29):
Kittle all locked in for quite a long time here
in San Francisco.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Faithful, I think you got exactly what you wanted. That
was my first thought, right like Christmas exactly. But it's
not even July, so that doesn't even work here.
Speaker 4 (00:42):
Yeah, three major contract extensions. George Kittle here through the
twenty twenty nine season, Brock Party through twenty thirty, Fred
Warner through twenty twenty nine. Again, a big congratulations to
the fan base because I know that there's been so
many social media comments on post and everything about well
just the excitement of having the stability of these now
(01:04):
three veterans here for many many years to come, and
again vocal leaders in the locker room, and also just
tremendous accolades from all three on the field. So I think,
you know, it's nice to just have that have.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Done very early in the off season.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
I think when you talk about Fred Warner and George Kittle,
you know, if everything goes well in the way everyone
wants it to be, you're gonna have two players that
make that forty nine ers ten year wall. George Kittle
drafted in twenty seventeen, so he'll hit his tenth season
in twenty twenty seven, and then Fred Warner drafted one
year later in twenty eighteen. He'll hit that ten year
(01:41):
mark in twenty twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
It would be awesome to see their faces on that
ten year wall in the hallways. There are such staples
here in the Bay and for the fan base and
for all of the team here. That would be just
amazing honors for each of them. And they are very
soon to come. We shall see. But let's give each.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Player some love.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Let's start in chronological order with tight end George Kittle
locked in for four years through the twenty twenty nine season.
I think the fans know he just has such a
unique personality and you see it in the media, and
that's exactly what he's like out on the field, Lindsey,
What is he like in person? And how much of
a star is he? Every single day you see him.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
You're gonna get one hundred and fifty percent energy with
George Kittle at any moment of the day, whether it's
on the field off the field, And I do think
that that is an infectious energy, and especially when you're
coming off of a season that we all know it
didn't go as planned, not how anyone would have liked,
but really, I think George Kittle sets the tone for
(02:41):
the excitement that this team is trying to have coming
into this very early part of the off season, the
off season workout programs to get everybody amped for what's
to come.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
So yeah, I can't say enough about George Kittle.
Speaker 4 (02:54):
Obviously, his just performance on the field is really unmatched.
He's a tight end that can really do anything that
you want. He can catch beastes, he's one of the
best run blockers, like he is your sixth offensive lineman
and he's you know, there's nothing really more you could
ask of George Kittle, I believe coming off of was
it an eleven touchdown season, So again, he continues to
(03:17):
just elevate his game, and you know, I think obviously
given a four year extension, you're going to see a
lot more of that to come.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Not only does he have a unique personality which we
all know and love, but he's such a unique football player.
Kyle Shannas Kyle Shanahan said, he's a Hall of Fame
pass catcher and Hall of Fame blocker. It's really cool
digging into his roots and seeing how he was coached
up back in Iowa and with his dad. He said
when he was younger, he always wanted to be an
offensive lineman.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
You know, all the kids.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Running around on the football field, they want to be
the quarterback, they want to be the receiver. But he
saw offensive line as that star power out on the field.
And so when your tight end's roots are in run blocking,
I mean, it just goes to show how amazing he
is out on the field. So very unique player. We
give major props to George. We're excited to see what
he does this year. Now, moving on shortly after we've
(04:05):
got Brock party qbye Yeah, locked in. I mean, talk
about what a crazy moment that is for a franchise.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
I do believe.
Speaker 4 (04:12):
I said this in a podcast earlier in the offseason.
There is a Brock Party movie that is being written
as we speak right, one of the best stories in
the NFL.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Picked two sixty two, seventh.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
Round of the twenty twenty two NFL Draft, signs of
five year extension. He is now a franchise quarterback for
the San Francisco forty nine ers.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
I don't really think it gets better than this, and like,
how cool is it to hear franchise quarterback Brock Party?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
And you know, I think, what's one thing is interesting.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
I was not here when Brock Party was drafted, because
I came a.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Couple of months after.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
But tell us about what that moment was like for
this franchise, because again, this was at a time where
there was another quarterback in place.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
It was so interesting because you know, working behind the
scenes of a draft, it's really cool to see all
the players that come in, all the media members. Behind
the scenes, we've got these whiteboards up on the wall.
Especially when it comes to the first round. We didn't
have a first round pick. I think that draft class
but we're saying, okay, who do we think is getting projected.
We're doing what all the media members do in the
national news and trying to draw names in colleges to
(05:17):
different teams. But when we get all the way down
to the final round of the draft, not only I'm
sure is the GM exhausted looking at all these players,
but so are the staff members here on the media team,
because we're out here making articles and interviewing each guy
that comes in. And so we get down to number
two sixty two, literally mystery relevant.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I don't pick you that draft.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
We're like, okay, let's see where this goes.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
You know it's gonna be oh yeah, maybe we'll see
him for OTAs, Maybe we'll see him around for a
training camp, but who knows.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Usually they don't stick around.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
So us in the back end we're like, let's get
someone with like a really cool name.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Someone but I do want to catch you. I catch
you name, that's it.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
We're like, how can we market this guy on the
media team. And then when it says quarterback brought pretty
like a quarterback? Interesting, Okay, let's see where this goes.
Little did we know that he'd become QB one and
so it's really cool to see his story and his progression. Lindsay,
you've covered him though ever since he came in as starter.
What's it been like to see him develop as a
(06:19):
quarterback but also a leader of this team.
Speaker 4 (06:22):
Yeah, I think we saw you know, obviously we don't
get I don't get to stay out there for all
of practices, right, but I think the first signs of
greatness that you know, you see at training camp that
things are going well for Brock. Then you see him
in a preseason game and you know he's very talented.
It's just obviously, when you're sitting behind two quarterbacks, it's
about when and you know if at some times if
(06:44):
you're going to get that opportunity. That opportunity came week
thirteen of his rookie season, and truly it was so seamless.
It really is a story that is made for a movie.
And then you see him get his first career start
in Week fourteen against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against no
other than the Goat. I would say, Tom Brady, you know,
(07:06):
able to get a win there, and then it just
kind of never really stopped. Right. His rookie year takes
this team to an NFC championship game. The following year
to a Super Bowl. It's just only gone up for
Brock Party. And he owns so many franchise records for
passing yards and you know, I think it's a completion
(07:26):
percentage as well.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
And then he's got some league records as well.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
So I mean, I'm so excited for the story that
it continues to be written about Brock Party. He has
only gotten better. And you know, way too early in.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
Otiz to say anything, but really it looks like he
hasn't skipped to beat and I wouldn't expect him to.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yeah, And it's so refreshing for this team especially, I
mean the Niners. No quarterback uncertainty here and there there's
been a lot of downtimes with not knowing.
Speaker 1 (07:53):
Who exactly is the leader of this offense.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Even when Rock Party was here and he had that
injury after the NFC Championship. We've gone through a lot
of ups and downs as a forty nine Ers family
here on the offense. Just how cool is it to
be going into this season locked in with a QB one,
knowing that he's ready to take the charge and keep going.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
He talked a little bit about it.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
In his press conference, saying how last off season it
was really cool just to get a full, real off
season and then just adding on top of that calling
him QB one, having the whole team supporting him. How
refreshing is that for this franchise.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
He continues to grow in his role as a leader, right,
And I think that comes with age, that comes with
feeling comfortable. Obviously, that stability that a five year contract
extension brings. I can only imagine that there's just security
that I'm going to be here for a long time.
I don't think anyone's ever questioned Brock Party's competitive edge
or his commitment to this franchise, So I think it
(08:46):
just like really amplifies those things. And I think for
the team, you know, he has earned their respect long
before this extension. And I think one of my favorite
things Kyle Shanahan said was that they don't expect Brock
Party to be doing anything different, like he.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Was awarded, not awarded, he earned.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
That contract extension because they deeply appreciate the leader that
he is and they don't need him to do anything different.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
They just need him to continue being Brock Party.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
And you know, another thing that Shanahan said was that
he has handled himself in the most professional way and
continued to be the same Brock that was in contract
negotiations out of contract negotiations before this was even in
the picture. And again, that's what they want from him
because he's done all the right things, and really it's
just about continuing to do those right things.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
He's obviously young. It's great to like have.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
A quarterback that's in place to continue to be the
franchise leader. And I think you're seeing that chemistry that's
already been built. I think of Juwan Jennings that we
saw at OTAs earlier this week, took on an expanded
role in twenty twenty four because of injuries, and you
see how comfortable he is with brock Perty and how
comfortable brock Party is with Juwan Jennings. There is trust
(10:00):
there and they haven't skipped to beat either. Like that
connection undeniable on the field and again.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Very really no tas, no pads. You know for some
of the for elemnon leven drills, there weren't even helmets on.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
But you see those interactions happening and it just looks comfortable.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
Yeah, exactly. I think George talked about it too in
his press conference during OTAs.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
It's really cool just to have the whole.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Team all together during the off season, especially this early
in the off season, not only because of the drills
happening on the field, but you said they could go
catch a movie after practice, they could go out on
the golf field. So they're building that trust and those
bombs that have been building over time. I can'trait to
see it all come into flow where they're in that
huddle on a game day. You're gonna see it just
(10:42):
grow and expand over the years. So Rock Party was
simply given exactly what he deserved this off season. So
huge congratulations to our QB one. Now literally we talked
about how fast Rock Party came after George Kittle.
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Two days days later we got linebacker Fred Warren.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
There are also another contract extension. This was just like
the cherry on top of it all, three year extension through.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
The twenty twenty nine season.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
Lindsey, he's a respected player on and off the field,
and he's so consistent. I think whenever I think about
Fred Warner, those videos of him leading the huddle before
every single game day pop into my head. I'm sure
the faith will also resonate with those just talk about
how consistent he is as a leader.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
I mean vocal leader.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
That's Fred Warner, right, And I know I keep jumping
to ots and we are going to get that. But
an anecdote to really illustrate this, Fred Warner, you know,
along with a number of other bets, taking on a
little bit of a reduced role in that first OTA
practice that I was able to attend on Thursday. So again,
there's so many other practices that are closed to media,
(11:45):
So take this with a grain of salt. But not
practicing but on the sidelines there, but actively coaching up
all those young linebackers, including third round pick linebacker Nick Martin.
A lot of enthusiasm from those guys to be learning
from Fred Warner because he's the old standard, right. This
is someone that was voted a unanimous All Pro. That
means across the board, everyone thought he deserved that All
(12:07):
Pro first team nod and that really just like speaks
to you know, the type of leader, the exact type
of linebacker you want to become as a young player.
You have somebody that you he set the blueprint, right,
so all you got to do is follow it, copy
that work ethic and just be a sponge, learn what
you can from Fred Warner, and that's that's the type
(12:28):
of player that you have on the field.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Yeah, and for Fred Water and also George Kittle, this
isn't their first contract extension, so I think it just
goes to show how much the organization values these two leaders.
We talked about it at the top of the podcast,
putting their face up on that ten year wall. It's
really cool to see how the team drafts these players,
digs a lot deep into who they are as people
(12:49):
drafts them, develops them, and now they're stars, and not
just the forty nine ers, but the entire league. They're
the gold standard across linebackers, tight ends. I just want
to know what's been your favorite Fred Warner memory throughout
all the years he's been here. He's been the skinny
Fred Warner with the long hair coming out of the helmet.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
It's gone even longer now.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
I wasn't here for those years, but it's.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
I mean, it's pretty cool to see how he's grown
to be a leader of this defense.
Speaker 4 (13:14):
Yeah, I want to say, I mean, honestly, I loved
the Fred Warner pick six. I just remember where he
collapses d yes like I think that might be the
best Fred Warner play I've ever seen. I love how
electrified Levis Stadium was, and it's.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
Just I always think.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
I think interceptions are great, especially when they're by non
DB's non safeties.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
I love the like rush forward too. It was great.
Speaker 4 (13:44):
And again, like you said, laps in the end zone
definitely just a hallmark Fred Warner play.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
I would say, yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
And talk about being in the face of a franchise.
You can never forget that time in Mexico City when
he's running out with the flag.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
That was cool for the Latino fan base.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Also, I mean shout out to Fred Warner again, congratulations
on his contract extension. Now we've been talking a little
bit here and there about OTAs, but let's dive a
little bit deeper onto that first open practice that we
got to see. It's phase three of OTAs.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
So no hard contact.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
I mean, even George said it, it's hard to run
block when you ain't got the pads on and you
can't be hitting people. But it's still fun to be
back out on the field and to be getting back
into football. We're seeing seven on seven drills, we're seeing
nine on seven drills, helmet on helmet off, it looks like.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
Yeah, like from the again one open practice at this point,
eleven on eleven drills didn't have helmets on, but then
at some portions of position drills, individual drills, we did
see helmets on.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
So it was a pretty big mix.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Especially during these practices, media members and myself were allowed
to watch all of it, but only record part of it.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
So what you're seeing on.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Social media just bits and pieces of that open portion
of the workout.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Okay, cool, Well let's talk about what the energy is
like on the field. If you're to take the fans
out onto the field, what would you describe the vibe
to them? Like, we're not hearing the pads crash, but
how are the players feeling being back out here at
the SEP performance Facility.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
I mean, I don't think there's a better way to
describe it than how Kittles said it. The vibes are immaculate.
He ismaculated, his words, not mine. So vibes are up right,
and I think that's really important. I think obviously this
is an organization that has seen many a deep playoff run.
You think about twenty one, twenty two to twenty three,
you were at an NFC championship or better for three
(15:29):
straight seasons, I think, especially after that twenty twenty three season.
Kyle Shanahan also said this, you know, the Super Bowl
doesn't work out exactly how you want it to, and
then that's mid February and you've got to turn around
and get ready for the start of an offseason workout
program just a number of weeks later. Right, There's no
way that your body's not tired. There's no way that
(15:49):
there's a mental aspect too, And I can't even pretend
to know what that is, Like, I'm not you know,
stooting up every Sunday, but that's an aspect of it too.
And given the longer off season, you had more of
a recharge period. And I do think you know, one
thing Kyle Shanahan really did emphasize that was an impressive
thing and something he was really looking at his team
(16:12):
to respond in the way they responded in the way
he wanted to is that, you know, the season ended
early January, he had a talk with them and you know,
really emphasize the importance of being present in Santa Clara
for the start of this offseason workout program, and the
team delivered, right I think the number we've heard thrown
around is ninety nine percent attendance for Phase one, and
(16:33):
that's fantastic, And you know a number of players, whether
it's Rock, whether it's Fred George saying that that really
does make all the difference. It sets the tone for
the type of offseason workout programs you want to have,
and especially on a year where there was a decent
amount of turnover, right we saw a number of players
leave in free agency, you do need that veteran leadership
(16:54):
to show either the new faces the rookies because there
were eleven draft picks and also a number of undrafted
players added to the organization of how things are done
around here. So I think it all feeds into what
the Niners wanted for this offseason and it's on track.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Yeah, what I would say.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
It's really cool to see that manifest because Kyle Shanahan
when he set the team down in January, obviously the
season didn't end exactly how we hoped it to, but
when he saw that, he shared with the team that
he wants them to be back in the building for
the early off season because there's going to be, like
you said, a lot of turnover. A lot of new
rookies in the mix now, and he wants those leaders
to show up and show how to set the tone
(17:32):
for all the new guys. Not everyone on this roster
has been through a lot of what Fred Warner George
Kittle have been through those hard seasons, and they know
what an off season takes to.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
Go and do a Super Bowl run.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
So it's really cool to see that standard reset. But
also what's really cool is that when he saw everyone
back in the building during phase one of OTAs, he said, Okay,
I knew I got the right guys. He's been knowing
that he's had the right guys, But he's really cool.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
It's really cool to see those.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Leaders show up and show out for the first OTA sessions.
Now we've got defensive corodinator Robert Sala, Offensive coronator Klaiy Kubiak,
Special Teams coronator Brant Boyer all in the scene, So
it's cool to see those new coaches back in action.
What injuries should we keep an eye on as ots
are going on?
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Yeah, just a few to note here. Safety gy R.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
Brown did have an ankle procedure is not expected to
be ready to be back in action until training camp,
and not the same type of injury. Ricky Pearsall also
tweaked his hamstring. According to Kyle Shanahan, he's expected to
be healthy in time for MIDI Caamp, which is next week,
so that's coming up pretty fast. But given just where
they are in the offseason workout programs, I would not
(18:41):
expect him to and he said as well, don't expect
him to really be out there. We're just too close
to the end of everything. Another rookie injury, Marquis Siegel,
he will be dealing with something until training camp they
expect as well. And Alfred Collins, which was a forty
nine or second round pick, has a caffin.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
He's week to week right now. So those are the
ones to keep an eye out on.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Awesome, Okay, thanks for the updates there. Also cool to
see that we got around that that number was thrown
around ninety nine percent attendance, so a lot of faces
back in the building. What are some of the best
takeaways he took from that open practice. It was a
short amount of time, but what really stood out to you?
Speaker 4 (19:18):
Well, I think if you're looking for Christian McCaffrey updates,
I do have one CMC looks like twenty twenty three CMC,
which I think should be welcome news by a lot
of people. Speed, the burst, it's all there. It just
looks as if you know, he's really healthy. We heard
that echoed by Shanahan as well. Healthy as can be
(19:38):
was the direct quote. So I think a really really
happy thing to know this early in the off season.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
I think that was the expectation.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
So right on track with CMC, especially after just dealing
with a number of achilles and knee injuries in twenty
twenty four. I know that that is a big relief
for him and also the organization as a whole on
the offense. I think another thing, first time we saw
our new specialist trio in action. Thomas Morestead was signed
on Wednesday. That open practice was on Thursday, so we
(20:06):
saw him, John Weeks, Jake Moody all practicing to the
side together. It's a completely new operation, so I imagine
they are just getting well acquainted with each other.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
I mentioned this earlier.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
Rock pretty Juwan Jennings looking like they're in mid season form.
I think wide receiver Jordan Watkins is someone to highlight
as well. I was really watching him during just quarterback
and receiver drills. Again, no defenses out there with them
at this point, but he looks fast. He was under
a four four forty and you see that speed on
(20:38):
the fields. He looks pretty fluid for this early in
the off season. I think that is something of note.
I think those are my big ones, and I think
you know, mikel Williams, I know we've seen a number
of clips of him on social media, a lot of explosiveness.
I know that is going to make all of the
D line enthusiasts very happy. So I think things are
progressing really well. Again, we are so early in the
(21:01):
off season. Please don't make any uh any big predictions
off this, but I do think they are positive updates.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Yeah, it's just a taste of football, but it's awesome
as we can inch closer and closer to the preseason
and training camp. But lindsay, thank you so much for
sharing your takeaways from that first open practice. Also, for
our next episode, we're going to be covering mandatory Mini camp.
So the difference between OTAs and then mandatory Mini camp
is that there's not that much of a difference. It's
just that mandatory Mini camp is now mandatory, So a.
Speaker 3 (21:29):
Lot of the other players in the building.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Yes, everyone should be in the building, but Lindsay, thank
you so much for sharing with OTA updates and also
going over our contract extensions. We've talked a lot about
it on this podcast, but if you want to see
all of it in action, head over to our forty
nine ers social media pages and our forty nine ers
YouTube page. You get to see a little clips from highlights,
clips and highlights from practices and OTAs. We also get
(21:52):
really cool het videos for Fred, George and Brock, so
go check out all of the content on all of
our pages there. Head over to forty nine ers dot
com ferend practice updates. Also subscribe to First Intent on Spotify, Apple, podcasts,
and YouTube for any more updates from us.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
And we'll see you next time. Hi guys,
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