After a strong preseason campaign that showed he is healthy and recovered, the former Gator Ricky Pearsall had a phenomenal week one performance for the San Francisco 49ers.
On the road against the Seattle Seahawks to open the 2025 NFL season, Pearsall was 4-for-7 on receptions for 108 total receiving yards. He averaged 27 yards, and his longest reception came in the fourth quarter on 2nd and nine yards to go with the 49ers down 10-13 with 2:28 left to play. Brock Purdy threw a perfect 45-yard pass down the field by the 49ers' sideline that Pearsall snagged for the first down.
Ricky Pearsall so far today:
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) September 7, 2025
7 targets
4 receptions
108 receiving yardspic.twitter.com/pboEAbuzqg
The 49ers eventually went on to score the game-winning touchdown that led them to a week one 17-13 victory over Seattle.
Ricky Pearsall breakout season has commenced pic.twitter.com/GBUG3pYHWB
— trev (@BayAreaTrev) September 7, 2025
His 108 yards was the highest receiving yardage by a 49er wide receiver on Sunday.
Pearsall missed a lot of time in his 2024 rookie season after recovering from being shot near Union Square in San Francisco. Fifty days after being shot, he returned to practice and later went on to play in 11 games during his rookie season.
After a strong end to 2024, he suffered a hamstring injury during OTAs in June and started training camp on the PUP.
After being cleared, in his first preseason game against the Raiders, Pearsall accumulated three receptions on four targets for 42 yards.
The 24-year former Gator picked up right where he left off as the 49ers opened their season on Sunday night. His 4-for-7, 108 yard performance put the league on notice that is he healthy and on the road to being a big impact player for San Francisco here in 2025.
Pearsall spoke with the media after the 49ers win on Sunday, speaking about his 45-yard reception. He told members of the media that he picked up on the Seahawks’ defense just sitting shallow and he told Coach Shanahan it was time for the deep ball.
“We need to go deep one time, we need to hit someone on that double move – they’re (the Seahawks’ defense) is just sitting. I told [Shanahan] lets run it. Shanahan dialed it up and called it,” he said.
Ricky Pearsall had watched film all week and knew what had to be done on his 45-yard catch that set up the GW TD.
— KNBR (@KNBR) September 8, 2025
"We need to go deep one time we need to hit someone on that double move — they're sitting... I told [Shanahan] let's run it. Shanahan dialed it up and called it." pic.twitter.com/FrrKEQA3Qp
And that play paid off as it eventually led to the 49ers taking the ball down the field and ultimately scoring the game-winning field goal that gave San Francisco a 1-0 record to start the 2025 NFL season and it was the former Florida boy staying hot as Ricky Pearsall led the team’s wide receivers in receiving yards.