49ers might be NFL’s team-chemistry champs
Last week, the 49ers held their second annual State of the Franchise event, which also can be termed their Two-Hour Team Infomercial (the surprising takeaway: The state of the franchise has never been better!).
It was an evening at the cozy California Theatre in San Jose that featured slick videos, more than 1,000 charged-up fans, and even more superlatives. Even the announcement of the 49ers’ new food vendor at Levi’s Stadium included a video set to dramatic music and best-ever claims: President Al Guido twice termed Levy Restaurants “the best in the business,” and Levy CEO Andy Lansing gushed “the legacy of the 49ers is second to none.”
Given that backdrop, it was easy for the unbiased in the
audience to roll their eyes when, late in the program, kicker Robbie Gould, 35, seemingly stayed on script as he hailed the 49ers’ brotherhood: “This,” Gould said, “is probably the best locker room in my 14-year career that I’ve been a part of.”
Moments later, left tackle Joe Staley eagerly echoed Gould: “Kind of piggybacking off what Robbie said earlier about the closeness of the locker room …” Staley began.
OK, guys, that’s enough, right?
Well, when it comes to talk about the 49ers’ locker room, it’s actually worth hearing more.
That’s because the atmosphere around the 49ers has been a running theme this offseason. And it often has been mentioned, without prompting, by new players who have encountered a vibe that wasn’t present on their old team.
Last week, center Weston Richburg, who signed in March after spending his first four seasons with the Giants, said he was struck that players’ relationships extended beyond the locker room.
“It’s new to me seeing teammates hang out like that all the time off the field,” Richburg said. “It’s been a really close atmosphere. … I don’t know if you see that everywhere. I think it’s different wherever you go, but I think they do a good job here of really creating that family atmosphere.”
The NFL, the home of short careers and non-guaranteed contracts, is a business known for being far more cutthroat than kumbaya. And that’s why rookie cornerback D.J. Reed, a fifth-round pick who attended Fresno State, Cerritos College and Kansas State, has been stunned to find more camaraderie than what he experienced in college.
“It’s really team-driven, which is different than basically everywhere I’ve been,” Reed said. “Everyone is on
board with the same thing. I haven’t met one person that’s selfish, which, to me, is not normal. I’ve never experienced that. …
“I thought going to the NFL people would all be just thinking of themselves and their next contract. It’s honestly not like that. This is really family based. Everyone wants to help you.”
Such comments suggest there could be a carryover of the chemistry that marked head coach Kyle Shanahan’s first season. In 2017, the 49ers’ ability to maintain a cohesive locker room was about the only impressive part of their 0-9 start. The team’s togetherness was best illustrated when the 49ers celebrated wildly in the locker room after beating the Giants for their first win of the season.
Defensive end Cassius Marsh, who was claimed off waivers from the Patriots shortly after that victory, recalled last week that he joined a losing team that labored like the playoffs were on the line.
“There is something very different about here,” Marsh said. “It’s family, we have fun, but there’s a standard of work. When I got here, the team was 1-9. And they did not practice like a 1-9 team. They did not talk like a 1-9 team.”
The 49ers’ apparent esprit de corps is reminiscent of 2011, when Jim Harbaugh arrived and players bought into his mantra of “the team, the team, the team.” Harbaugh’s message of selflessness caught on partly because the 49ers, then nine years removed from a winning season, were starved for success. In addition, leaders such as running back Frank Gore and defensive tackle Justin Smith were among their most devoted and hardest-working players.
Seven years later, these 49ers, who have lost 39 of their past 53 games, have some of the same ingredients: Only three players own a Super Bowl ring and their biggest names set the tone.
“I don’t see anybody here who feels like they are entitled to be here,” Marsh said. “Joe Staley works hard as s— every single day. (Quarterback) Jimmy (Garoppolo) works hard every day. … We’ve got a bunch of guys that are trying to prove themselves, even though they’ve already done so much.”
Plenty of players have credited Shanahan and general manager John Lynch for shaping the culture while reshaping the team. The 49ers have just 13 players who were on the roster when Lynch and Shanahan held their introductory news conference in February 2017.
The 49ers’ housecleaning has included All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who was released five days after he publicly complained about playing time, and starting cornerback Rashard Robinson, who was traded nine days after flinging his helmet during a sideline tantrum.
“It has a lot to do with the culture that’s being built here,” Gould said. “There’s two guys, Kyle and John, that have done a great job of bringing in the right people. And that’s what it’s about.”
Gould’s comments, made at the State of the Franchise event, were greeted by enthusiastic cheers that marked the evening. The crowd was eager to believe what was being pitched: The state of the franchise has never been better.
We’ll see about the stadium food, but when it comes to one aspect of their team, let’s skip the superlatives and settle on saying this: The state of their locker room is strong.