49ers Players, Both Shooting Victims, Find Comfort In Each Other

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Ricky Pearsall catches a pass during practice at training camp on August 04, 2025.

When the San Francisco 49ers traded for running back Brian Robinson Jr. on August 22, 2025, it coincidentally gave them two young offensive stars (Robinson Jr. and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall) who were both the victims of offseason shootings before the start of their rookie season.

The internet quickly caught on to this, making jokes about what their duo nickname may be and other similar, lighthearted comments.

But as it turns out, for Robinson Jr. and Pearsall, their similar traumatic experiences bond them in a way that’s deeper than just a coincidental fact.

In an interview with UK sports radio station talkSPORT on Tuesday September 2, 2025, Pearsall said he and Robinson shared their stories with one another last week.

Pearsall also talked about the value of having a teammate who can understand him as he continues to process being shot last fall.

“He mentioned, you never know what you’re going to do in that situation until you’re in it, and that hit home for me because I couldn’t imagine what I would have done,” Pearsall said (h/t @Coach_Yac).

Ricky Pearsall said he and Brian Robinson talked about their shooting incidents:

“We just told each other our stories last week. Being able to go back and reflect with someone who can directly relate to you and he mentioned that you never know what you’re going to do in that… pic.twitter.com/1rxs93AcvW

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) September 2, 2025

Pearsall also reiterated that he is excited about what Robinson Jr. can do for the 49ers on the field.

“We talked about it, and we were able to reflect and relate in a way and we’re really excited to have him on this team too. He’s a baller,” Pearsall said.

Pearsall Still Haunted By Shooting

Interestingly, Ricky Pearsall’s comments come the day after an ESPN released a story on Pearsall by 49ers insider Nick Wagoner marking the 1-year anniversary of the shooting. In it, Pearsall admits that he still thinks about the incident on a nightly basis.

“Unfortunately, I revisit that every single night I go to bed,” Pearsall said. “I kind of just carry that with me.”

But Pearsall also said that is a reality he has accepted, and he is working hard to focus on the positives that came out of such a traumatic experience.

“Now I think it’s not as much of avoiding it or revisiting it or not revisiting it,” Pearsall said. “It’s more of how I deal with it and the light that I put on it. And for me it’s more of a positive light and the things that I can get out of that and more of a positive direction and try to inspire other people.”

Perhaps continuing to talk with Brian Robinson Jr. will be therapeutic for both men and help them form a deep friendship, another positive thing to come out of an unspeakably horrible situation.

Pearsall Set To Be 49ers’ #1 Wide Receiver

One year after he missed his first few NFL games due to the shooting, Ricky Pearsall is instead one of the few healthy wide receivers for the 49ers.

Pearsall is the only 49ers wide receiver atop the depth chart that is not currently on IR, PUP, suspended, or dealing with a nagging injury that puts their status for Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks in question.

All of the injury issues are undoubtedly bad news for the 49ers. But they also mean that the 49ers will rely on Pearsall more than they ever have.

If he is up to the task, he could become one of the highest-volume receivers in the NFL early in the season and prove he should be Brock Purdy’s go-to option at wideout.

49ers fans are certainly rooting for him to become a superstar.

Ethan Inman is a sports journalist covering the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and Las Vegas Raiders for heavy.com. He also co-hosts a college football podcast for The Voice of College Football, and writes about the NBA and MLB. He has previously covered the USC Trojans, the NHL, college baseball, and the intersection of sports and popular culture for other publications. He is based in the greater Los Angeles area. More about Ethan Inman