Ricky Pearsall's NFL dreams became a reality in April when he got a call from the San Francisco 49ers, who informed him he was the 31st pick in the 2024 draft.
But the nightmare circumstances of Aug. 31 nearly cost the wide receiver far more than his football career.
The 23-year-old player was walking alone to his car that day when a 17-year-old suspect noticed the NFL player was wearing a luxury watch and allegedly attempted to steal it.
During the struggle, Pearsall and the boy were wounded by the boy's gunfire. Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan detailed the message he sent to his team immediately after learning of the shooting.
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Ricky Pearsall of the San Francisco 49ers during training camp at the SAP Performance Facility on July 31, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
Shanahan said he spoke with Pearsall by phone shortly after the injury and that 49ers general manager John Lynch went to the hospital to check on the rookie.
Teen arrested in shooting of 49ers rookie Ricky Pearsall is 'deeply sorry,' says lawyer
Shanahan, in his eighth season as the Niners' head coach, also noticed a change in the atmosphere around the team after Pearsall's teammates found out what had happened.
“Well, everybody came in. Nobody knew exactly what happened, so I was able to reassure everybody that he was totally OK and it was a miracle,” Shanahan told media on Thursday. “I think he was shot about two inches below his praying hands tattoo. This is kind of amazing.”
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan before the NFC Championship Game against the Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)
Shanahan added that Pearsall was eventually able to join a FaceTime call with his teammates.
“But it was really cool that, even though you can't call the whole team, you let everybody know as soon as you get there. Then, about two hours later, Ricky came in and talked to everybody.”
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall smiles during the 49ers' rookie minicamp at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Robert Kupvens/USA Today Sports)
Pearsall's mother, Erin Pearsall, posted on social media that the bullet entered the right side of her son's chest and exited through his back without hitting any vital organs.
Pearsall was released from San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center on Sunday. Lynch said Tuesday that Pearsall was at the team's training facility on Monday. The 49ers placed Pearsall on the non-football injured list to give him time to recover from the shooting and a shoulder injury that limited him all summer, Lynch confirmed.
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A high school senior charged with attempted murder in a weekend daytime shooting in Pearsall was arraigned in juvenile court on Wednesday and apologized through his attorney for the incident.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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