Ricky Pearsall will be one of the weapons available to the San Francisco 49ers heading into the upcoming season, with expectations high for improved performance thanks to the adjustments being made. Among those changes is the jersey number the young wide receiver will wear.
According to a report by NFL Jersey Numbers on X, Pearsall will no longer wear the #14 he debuted with during the 2024 season. Instead, he’ll take on the #1 jersey, previously worn by Deebo Samuel before his departure from the franchise.
Samuel had made a similar switch during his career, moving from the #19 jersey he wore from 2019 to 2023—a number fans had grown accustomed to associating with him—to the #1 in the 2024 season, a year in which he did not achieve the best results with the team.
To date, only six players have worn the #1 jersey for the San Francisco 49ers. Pearsall will become the seventh once the 2025 season officially begins and he plays in at least one regular-season game. Last season, he appeared in 11 games, starting in only four.
Who has worn the #1 jersey for the 49ers?
Deebo Samuel was the most recent player to wear the number, making him the sixth in franchise history. Among the most notable, however, is Gary Anderson, a placekicker who holds multiple career records and played for the 49ers during the 1997 season.
| Player | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Gary Anderson | 1997 | 1997 |
| Jose Cortez | 2005 | 2005 |
| Deebo Samuel | 2024 | 2024 |
| Noland Smith | 1969 | 1969 |
| Troy Smith | 2010 | 2010 |
| Jimmie Ward | 2021 | 2022 |
Fan Reactions to Pearsall’s Number Change
Some fans took to X to express discomfort with the news of Pearsall adopting the #1 jersey. They voiced concerns that it might bring bad luck, referencing Samuel’s similar number switch, which preceded his challenging season.
