Brant Boyer’s son may have helped WR Junior Bergen get noticed
The San Francisco 49ers were awful in every facet of their special-teams unit in 2024. Okay, maybe not replacement punter Pat O’Donnell and replacement kickers Anders Carlson and Matthew Wright, but the rest is true. The 49ers’ first step was firing Brian Schneider and hiring Brant Boyer, who led the Jets’ special-teams unit to the top spot in special-teams DVOA during the second half of 2024.
While the 49ers draft centered on defensive upgrades, the team addressed its special teams unit with their final selection. Jacob Cowing returned punts last season, and Deebo Samuel saw success as a kick returner, but the 49ers added WR Junior Bergen from Montana to solidify their returner role.
Boyer spoke to the media for the first time and opened up on how he discovered Bergen with a small assist from his son, who plays for Montana.
It’s been reported that you really liked WR Junior Bergen quite a bit. Tell us what you like about Bergen.
“You know, you’re betting on the kid. Obviously, my son plays at Montana. He was as productive as a returner as it gets out there. If you want to say he has the it factor, I think he does. He’s one of the hardest workers on the team. He’s a great kid. He’s going to come in here and do everything he can to make this football team. Teams tried to kick away from him all the time and any opportunity that they gave him, he made the most of it. And that’s what you’re looking for. We’re wanting to create competition at every level, at every position on this team. And that’s special teams included. That’s what you’ve seen with us picking up a kid like that. And he’s a hell of a kid and I think he’s going to come in here and he is going to work his tail off and hopefully it works out. Whoever makes the team, who doesn’t, we’re going to make a difference in the return game.”
Boyer also addressed how much input he has on additions to the special teams unit and Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch’s role in that process.
When you came here, did head coach Kyle Shanahan pretty much give you carte blanche or did you have a lot of input into how special teams would be constructed from a personnel standpoint?
“Well, I think it’s been very, very positive from Kyle and [president of football operations/general manager] John [Lynch] as far as what our needs were and everything like that. And I think you see some of the needs hopefully getting addressed. I think with them signing [LS John] Weeks and when a player like that becomes available when a player like [CB] Siran Neal becomes available when, when [LB] Luke Gifford becomes available, guys that are good special teamers, guys that are proven in the league. I think that’s a sign that this organization takes special teams seriously and I think it’s really positive. I really do.”
The 49ers have turned the keys over to Boyer fully. The hope is that the unit can be at the least a net-zero unit or a positive unit that changes games and contributes to wins.