The San Francisco 49ers are currently looking rested, restocked, and fully ready to put the pedal down for a late-season run. These guys are feeling good after roaring out to a 6-1 start this season, then getting a much-needed bye week. But dig a little deeper, and you find that the real story, the one that tells you everything about their belief in something special, is centered on an unlikely figure: fullback Kyle Juszczyk, and a contract saga that’s been talked about for years.
The “Huge Check” That Raised Eyebrows And Built An Offense
You can’t talk about the 49ers’ identity without talking about Juszczyk. The guy is one of two “unlikely 49ers,” described as a “fullback and a party animal,” who just landed on the team’s 10-year wall. His journey there was anything but smooth, especially when it came to his contract. Shanahan and Lynch apparently joked about calling him “huge check” when they were figuring out how high they’d go to sign him. Lynch himself admitted it got “real” because there were so many suitors. And yeah, that hefty price tag brought some serious heat. NFL.com even slammed it in 2017 under “worst contracts so far,” saying agents “smelled blood in the water with new general manager John Lynch and knocked him around at the negotiating table.” Fast forward to after the 2024 season, and the contract popped up again when the 49ers actually released him in a cost-cutting move, only to bring him back just four days later. They call that brief estrangement part of the “10-year wall’s 10-second rule,” meaning it happened but somehow “officially didn’t count.”
21 Personnel: The Heart of the Beast
That controversial “huge check” deal is directly tied to how the 49ers play ball, especially with their 21 personnel package, which uses two backs and one tight end. They’ve run this more than any other team since 2017, and Juszczyk is a critical piece of that puzzle. It’s almost too perfect that he switched lockers this year to be right next to the other two main guys in that combination: George Kittle, who’s the next face headed to the 10-year wall, and Christian McCaffrey. Juszczyk put it straight when asked about moving across the locker room, saying, “I’m in my 14th season of the NFL. I don’t want it to be the end, but at some point it will be. So I figured in these last couple of years, I really wanted to enjoy things and be surrounded by my best friends.” That’s pure team chemistry right there, folks.
The Green Flag Is Waving For a Late-Season Sprint
All these pieces, from Juszczyk’s storied contract to their unique offensive scheme, come together to explain why the 49ers are feeling so good right now. Trent Williams called their commitment a “green-flag signal,” saying it’s “time to put the pedal all the way down.” He said it shows they believe it “could be something special,” adding that “somebody can tell you they love you all day, but when they show you … They’re showing us by bringing in more people like [Buckner] that can change the scope of the franchise.” With Nick Bosa and potentially other important players set to return, they’re gearing up for their next challenge.
The 49ers will look to keep that momentum rolling this Sunday against the Raiders at Levi’s Stadium. After that 6-1 start and a bye week to get everyone healthy, this team isn’t just showing up, they’re showing that the belief is real.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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