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Trevis Gipson looks on from the sideline during the second half of a Bears preseason game against the Bills on August 26, 2023.
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Trevis Gipson made one of the biggest plays of the game for the Niners in their win over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday October 2, 2025.
Gipson recovered Rams running back Blake Corum’s fumble midway through the second quarter, snuffing out a Los Angeles drive that would have almost certainly resulted in points.
Every point mattered in San Francisco’s narrow 26-23 overtime victory, so if that play went differently, it’s very possible that the Rams would have won the game.
So the play meant a lot to the 49ers and their fanbase. But it meant even more to Gipson.
According to a story shared by 49ers insider Matt Maiocco, Gipson didn’t even initially make the 49ers’ 90-man training camp roster when he tried out with them in late July.
To make matters more difficult at the time, he missed his grandfather’s funeral to even be able to attend that tryout.
“It’s an emotional subject, but I’m glad and appreciative that I did take that opportunity to come here because I knew he would have wanted me to. I knew he would have wanted me to come here,” Gipson told Maiocco about his grandfather.
But the 49ers signed Gipson two weeks later, and he eventually made their practice squad to open the season. The 49ers elevated him to their active roster for the first time ahead of the Rams game, and made an immediate impact.
It was only the second fumble recovery of Gipson’s career, and likely a moment that he will never forget.
How Riding Roller Coasters Helped Gipson’s Mentality
After his tryout with the 49ers, Gipson decided to go to the California’s Great America amusement park, which is across the parking lot from Levi’s Stadium, and ride some roller coasters.
Officially, Great America boasts nine roller coasters, including the world famous California Gold rush-themed wooden coaster Gold Striker and Northern California Classics such as Demon and Flight Deck.
“I went to Great America and just, you know, tap back into my childhood a little bit,” Gipson told Maiocco.
Maybe it was something about those childhood memories that Great America surfaced in Gipson, but despite his unsuccessful tryout, he was inspired to approach the situation with hope.
As he took a spin on those coasters, he looked out at Levi’s Stadium repeatedly and felt with a childlike faith that he would be back, playing in that stadium.
“Honestly, I looked at this stadium, and I said, ‘Man, I don’t know what it is, but something’s telling me, I’ll be back,’” Gipson said.
Great America is set to close after 2027. So 49ers players unfortunately only have two more years to draw inspiration from the amusement park that neighbors their home stadium.
All About Trevis Gipson’s Career
Trevis Gipson is used to being the underdog on the football field.
After playing in the AAC with Tulsa, the only school to give him a Division I offer, for all five years of his college career, the Chicago Bears drafted Gipson in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft.
His best seasons in the NFL came in 2021 and 2022 with Chicago. In those two seasons combined, he recorded 70 tackles, 18 QB hits, 10 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 5 pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
But the Bears waived him as part of final roster cuts ahead of the 2023 season.
He has struggled to find a permanent home since. He has played for the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks and now the 49ers.
Trevis Gipson probably has been the most consistent 49ers edge rusher during the preseason
Been putting great reps on tape in each game
Gets a pressure and a QB hit here after winning with a swipe pic.twitter.com/s8lZdR9cWI
— Jordan Elliott (@splash_cousin) August 25, 2025
Fortunately for him, his 49ers career is off to a good start. And after hearing his unique story, he’s definitely going to have more fans behind him.
49ers fans, what do you think of Trevis Gipson’s story?
Ethan Inman is a sports journalist covering USC football, 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. He has previously covered the greater USC Athletics, 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
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