A first-round Florida transfer whose rookie season began with a near-fatal shooting and has since been slowed by further injury.
Ricky Pearsall's 49ers career started under extraordinary circumstances after he was shot in the chest in a robbery attempt just before his rookie season began. He has since fought to stay on the field, battling injuries in 2025 while still showing the route-running skill that made him a first-round pick.
Path to the league
Pearsall began his college career at Arizona State before transferring to Florida for his final two seasons, catching 65 passes for 965 yards and four touchdowns as a fifth-year senior. The 49ers selected him 31st overall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, valuing his hands and route-running polish.
Career highlights
Pearsall was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery in San Francisco days before the start of his rookie season, an injury that forced him to miss the first six games of 2024. He returned that season to show flashes of the receiver San Francisco drafted.
2025 season recap
Pearsall played in nine games in 2025 after a PCL and ankle injury limited his availability, catching 36 of 52 targets for 528 yards but no touchdowns, averaging 14.7 yards per reception.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Ricky Pearsall
- Pro Football Reference: Ricky Pearsall
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Receiving
9 games played▶Receiving · career
| Year | Team | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 49ers | 9 | 36 | 528 | 14.7 | 0 | 45 |
| 2024 | 49ers | 11 | 31 | 400 | 12.9 | 3 | 46 |
▶Rushing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 49ers | 9 | 2 | -2 | -1.0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024 | 49ers | 11 | 3 | 45 | 15.0 | 0 | 39 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- injuredReserveOrOut
- College
- Florida
- Hometown
- Chandler, AZ, USA
- Age
- 25
- Status
- day-to-day
Latest news about Ricky Pearsall
All news →49ers' Ricky Pearsall Set for Season-Ending Knee Surgery
The loss of San Francisco's WR1 comes a day before the team moved to re-sign Deebo Samuel and adds to an already thinning receiver room.
Deebo Samuel Returns to 49ers on One-Year Deal Worth Up to $7 Million
Samuel, traded away last year after requesting a move, is back in San Francisco: 'It was just a matter of time before it happened.'
