Ricky Pearsall’s role for the upcoming season is expected to grow significantly, and he has also decided to change his 49ers jersey number in an effort to refresh his image
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
Data provided by Pro-Football-Reference
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.
