Your daily San Francisco 49ers news for Saturday, May 24th, 2025
How the 49ers fell for loud, proud and fierce rookie cornerback Upton Stout (paywall)
“He viewed Stout as peerless when it came to a category the 49ers term “Game WIT.”
“It’s essentially evaluating game demeanor, aggressiveness, mentality and strain,” Ahmad said. “Warren gave Upton the highest ‘Game WIT’ grade he’s ever given a prospect.”
Stout was also in a class of his own when it came to his reaction after he was drafted, with general manager John Lynch terming it the most memorable post-pick phone call of his nine-season tenure. During an 89-second conversation that also included head coach Kyle Shanahan and owner Jed York, Stout said “Let’s do it” nine times, called York “Coach” in his excitement and assured Shanahan that the 49ers had just drafted a “dawg.”
Stout’s energy was infectious. Near the end, Lynch had the draft room yell “Let’s do it!” on a count of three.”
49ers QB Purdy shares key area of improvement entering 2025 NFL season
“Just going back and watching last year’s film, it’s like, ‘How can I just get back to being on top of my assignment and show really good fundamentals on film?’ I think last year there were times where I was going through my reads and plays and stuff where I could have just been quicker,” Purdy told Mark Willard and Dan Dibley. “Getting my eyes across the field and progressing quickly, trusting the pocket.”
“I went back and watched my rookie tape, and on my rookie tape, I got thrown in and all I knew was what the coaches told me and I was a machine that way. There was some good stuff last year too, but I feel like I can get back to those kind of fundamentals. I’m on myself pretty hard. Coach Mick Lombardi, Klay Kubiak, they’re on me right now out in the field pushing me.
“So, I’m excited about that and I just got to go out and apply it every day in training camp and obviously in the season.”
Two former Seahawks stars challenged each other. They show how relationships really grow (paywall)
“The power of building a relationship with somebody. You talk about leading and guiding people, but Bobby is good at connecting with people. I don’t think there was a person in the locker room that he didn’t vibe with. Spending time with people, hanging out, shooting the s—. He was good at that.
And something that I want to get better at: being honest. I like to sugarcoat a lot. I like to take people’s feelings into account. But Bobby was like: “Hey, shoot it to me straight.”
It’s crazy because (49ers assistant head coach) Gus Bradley came to my office today, and I said I want to get better at that. What I try to do is protect people’s feelings, but you realize the ultimate goal is for people to get better. So if you lie to them and bulls— them, that’s just as damaging. I think Bobby was good at telling the truth and having emotional intelligence with it.”