Beathard is a ray of sunshine
LANDOVER, Md. — Quarterback C.J. Beathard took in the scene during warm-ups. Up near the top of FedEx Field, on Washington’s “ring of honor” was his grandfather Bobby’s name.
He enjoyed the pregame treat of seeing his grandfather’s importance in Washington’s history without yet realizing how important the franchise would become in his own
personal history.
“It was really cool to see Grandpa’s name right on the stadium,” Beathard said. “He’s a tremendous person. I learned so much from him and just try to be like him every chance I get.”
Bobby Beathard left his imprint on Washington as the team’s general manager for 11 seasons. C.J., who was born five years after his grandfather left Washington, had not been to a game here. But now the franchise is historically important to him.
It’s where he got his first real NFL experience. Where he almost led the 49ers to a comeback win. And where he, apparently, became the 49ers’ starting quarterback.
Why not? The 49ers, who fell 26-24, have nothing to lose except some more games. They dropped to 0-6 by becoming the first team in NFL history to lose five consecutive games by three or fewer points.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan isn’t big in the B.S. department, and when asked if Beathard, 23, showed him enough to take the starting job from Brian Hoyer, Shanahan was unequivocal.
“Yes, he did,” Shanahan said.
“The game’s not too big for the guy,” Shanahan said. “He came in and gave us a little bit of a spark. It wasn’t perfect, but ... I think he’ll learn from it.”
With the 49ers trailing 14-0 and looking lifeless with 6:39 remaining in the first half, Shanahan made the change. He benched Hoyer, who had completed just four passes for 34 yards, and put in the rookie, who was drafted from Iowa in the third round.
By the end of the half, it was clear something had changed. The 49ers had scored a touchdown and had a new energy. In the two drives he had led, Beathard had completed six passes for 89 yards.
“I thought he did great,” 49ers tackle Joe Staley said. “He came in there, threw the ball around, we did a better job protecting him. He did well.”
Beathard had no hint during the week that he might play. He didn’t get any more reps. Didn’t get any extra chance to find better chemistry with his receivers. When quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello told him to get ready, that he was going in, Beathard felt a twinge of nerves, but they vanished once he got in the game.
“It’s something you dream about as a kid,” he said.
In the second half, the 49ers opened with a drive that ended in a field goal. On their next possession, the 49ers drove into field-goal range again, but Robbie Gould missed the kick. Then Washington fumbled and Beathard came on the field with the ball on the 1, and Carlos Hyde ran for the touchdown. With Beathard behind center, the 49ers had dug out of their hole. The score was tied.
“He’s done it multiple times in college,” said rookie tight end George Kittle, who played at Iowa with Beathard. “He’s one of the best competitors that I’ve shared the field with. He’s just going to ball. That’s what he does.”
Washington retook the lead, but Beathard cut his team’s deficit to two points with a touchdown drive, a beautiful throw on the run to Aldrick Robinson with 1:58 remaining. The 49ers then got the ball back with 52 seconds left and were in position to win.
The 49ers couldn’t close the deal, hurt by a dubious passinterference call against wide receiver Pierre Garcon that moved them out of field-goal range.
Even in the heat of the final seconds, Beathard kept his cool.
“C.J.’s a calm guy,” Garcon said. “He doesn’t get rattled at all,”
That might be thanks to his bloodlines. The NFL doesn’t seem to rattle him and neither does the spotlight. His grandpa worked in the NFL for 35 years. His dad writes country songs for superstars. His brother Tucker is a countrymusic singer and songwriter.
Beathard grew up in Franklin, Tenn. He has a soft, southern accent, drops a “Ma’am” into his answers and earned the nickname “Sunshine” when he played at Iowa because his (then) long blond hair resembled Ronnie Bass in “Remember the Titans.” He and his girlfriend have a 10month old named Lyla.
Beathard made 28 starts in four seasons with the Hawkeyes and was named the Most Valuable Player as a junior.
The 49ers need to see what he can do, and this season is already lost, so why not?
Hoyer was classy about the benching, helping Beathard warm up and working with him on the sideline.
“I’ve been through it before,” Hoyer said. “I have the utmost respect for Kyle, and I knew nothing I was going to say was going to change his mind. I just tried to go on and be a good teammate. Help C.J. as much as I could.”
It was a strange day, with the 49ers facing Kirk Cousins, the quarterback many assume Shanahan would like to pursue in the offseason. Cousins’ team is 3-2, he’s playing well, and he will be 30 next season. Would he really want to come to a team that has so many holes to fill and might not be playoff-ready for a few years?
The 49ers don’t know who their quarterback of the future is, not for the long term.
But for the short term, it is Beathard. A spark of sunshine.