Ricky Pearsall Bio
Richard Pearsall Jr., known professionally as Ricky Pearsall, is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 189 pounds, he plays the wide receiver position and wears jersey number 1 for San Francisco. Born and raised in Arizona, Pearsall developed into a polished pass catcher through standout high school play and productive college stints at Arizona State and Florida. The 49ers selected him in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, and he is in the early stages of his professional career.
Pearsall’s path to the NFL included record-setting high school performances, a steady climb through the Pac-12 and SEC, and a memorable rookie season that followed a serious off-field incident. He is signed with the 49ers through the 2028 season and continues to build a résumé that includes early production as a route runner and reliable possession receiver.
Early Life and Background
Richard Pearsall Jr. was born on September 9, 2000, in Phoenix, Arizona, and grew up in nearby Chandler, a community in the Phoenix metropolitan area known for producing athletes across multiple sports. He attended Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, where he quickly established himself as one of the most productive wide receivers in the state. As a junior, Pearsall set the Arizona High School 6A single-game receiving yard record with 342 yards on 14 receptions against Gilbert High School, a performance that announced his Division I potential.
He finished that junior season with 74 receptions for 1,153 yards and 15 touchdowns, totals that drew recruiting attention across the region. Pearsall was rated a three-star recruit by national scouting services and ultimately chose Arizona State over scholarship offers from Air Force, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, and UC Davis. His upbringing in the Phoenix area, combined with a family background in public service and athletics, helped shape a disciplined approach to the sport that has followed him into his professional career.
His father, Ricky Pearsall Sr., is a captain within the Phoenix Fire Department and played college football at Northern Arizona, giving his son an early model of how to combine athletic ambition with steady, demanding work.
Path to Professional Football
Pearsall began his college career at Arizona State, where he joined the Sun Devils in 2019 and developed gradually within the Pac-12. As a freshman, he recorded seven receptions for 128 yards while adjusting to the college level. During the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, he appeared in all four Sun Devils games and added six catches for 86 yards and one touchdown, demonstrating reliability in a compact schedule.
By his junior year at Arizona State, Pearsall had grown into a featured pass catcher, finishing with 48 receptions for 580 yards and a team-high four receiving touchdowns. After the 2021 season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal, weighing options including Oregon before ultimately choosing the Florida Gators. The move to the SEC gave him access to a higher level of weekly competition and a broader national stage.
At Florida, Pearsall recovered from a foot injury suffered during training camp and produced in his first season in the program, finishing 2022 with 33 receptions for 661 yards and five touchdowns. He saved some of his brightest moments for rivalry games, including a five-reception, 148-yard, two-touchdown performance in a loss to Florida State. In 2023, he elevated his production with 65 receptions for 965 yards and four touchdowns, cementing his status as an NFL prospect and setting up his decision to declare for the 2024 draft.
Ricky Pearsall Career
Early Career (2024)
The San Francisco 49ers selected Pearsall in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft with the 31st overall pick, making him the sixth wide receiver taken in that draft class. On June 21, 2024, the 49ers signed him to a four-year, $12.35 million contract that included a signing bonus of $5.93 million and was fully guaranteed at signing. The agreement reflected the team’s belief that Pearsall’s combination of size, route running, and special teams value fit their offensive scheme.
His first training camp was interrupted by a serious off-field incident. On August 31, 2024, Pearsall was shot in the chest during a botched robbery attempt in San Francisco and was transported to San Francisco General Hospital for treatment. He was released the following day after his condition improved, and was later placed on the reserve/NFI list on September 2 as he continued to recover. He was activated on October 19, 2024, and began preparing for his regular-season debut.
NFL Debut and 2024 Season
Pearsall made his NFL debut in Week 7 of the 2024 season, recording three receptions for 21 yards in a 28-18 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs. The performance was modest in volume but significant as a return to the field just weeks after the shooting. On November 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he caught his first career touchdown as part of a four-reception, 73-yard day, a milestone that underlined his quick recovery.
His most productive outing came in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions, when he posted eight receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown. That yardage total marked the most by a 49ers rookie receiver in a single game since Jerry Rice recorded 241 yards in 1985. Pearsall closed his first NFL season with 31 receptions for 400 yards and three touchdowns, a steady debut from a first-round pick who missed the start of the year.
2025 Season
Pearsall’s 2025 season began with recovery work. On July 18, 2025, he was placed on the physically unable to perform list as he dealt with a hamstring injury, a precautionary step early in training camp. He returned to play in the 49ers’ first four games of the regular season before injuring his PCL in a 26-21 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
After a period of rehabilitation, Pearsall returned to the lineup for the 49ers’ Week 11 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, reconnecting with the team in the middle of the season. Through the early portion of 2025, his career NFL totals stood at 67 receptions for 928 yards and three touchdowns, a foundation he is looking to expand as the season progresses.
Ricky Pearsall Personal Life
Family Background and Personal Life
Pearsall’s family ties run deep in Arizona. His father, Ricky Pearsall Sr., is a captain within the Phoenix Fire Department and played college football at Northern Arizona, offering a powerful example of public service combined with athletic background. That environment shaped Pearsall’s work ethic and grounded his approach to a high-profile professional career.
Pearsall continues to live and work primarily in the Bay Area after joining the 49ers, with his professional focus centered on his role within the team and his ongoing recovery and development as a young NFL receiver.
2025 Season Outlook
The 2025 season represents a critical second chapter for Pearsall as he works to translate a promising but interrupted rookie year into sustained production. After a hamstring issue limited his training camp and a PCL injury cut into his early-season availability, his return against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11 marked a turning point, putting him back on the field alongside the 49ers’ established offensive core.
With his rookie contract running through 2028 and the 49ers invested in his long-term development, Pearsall’s role within the offensive game plan and on special teams is expected to grow as he regains full health. His early career high of 141 receiving yards against Detroit, combined with three career touchdowns through his first NFL games, suggests the volume and scoring pace are likely to increase in the second half of 2025 and beyond.
