San Francisco 49ers Star Opens Up About Life-Threatening Shooting

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Ricky Pearsall looks on during warm ups before the 49ers played the New York Jets on September 09, 2024.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall’s rookie season was unfortunately hampered by a horrific incident mere weeks before the season started.

Pearsall was shot in the chest on August 31, 2024 during an armed robbery attempt in San Francisco. He missed six games during the 2024 season recovering from the bullet wound.

In an interview with 49ers insider Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area on the podcast 49ers talk, Pearsall opened up in a lot of depth about how the shooting affected him, and even said it is still affecting him to this day.

“That story is never going to go away, and I’m constantly thinking about it, just from the damage that maybe it took on me,” Pearsall said. “I just think about it and think about maybe some regrets that I have.”

Pearsall Said a Police Officer’s Prayers Helped Him During the Shooting

One of the coolest things that 49ers fans can learn from Pearsall’s appearance on 49ers talk is the true impact that San Francisco Police Department Sgt. Joelle Harrell had on Pearsall in the waking moments of the shooting.

Harrell was honored at the 49ers’ first game of the 2024 season for her heroics helping Pearsall. But on Monday June 23, 2025, Pearsall revealed even more just how important Harrell was on that fateful day.

“When she came to me, at that moment, I was kind of freaking out,” Pearsall said. “Blood was everywhere. I was kind of looking at the location of where the bullet was in my chest and, this is worrisome right now, you know? I don’t know what’s about to happen next, and she came over and she was praying for me.”

“I feel like a weight just got lifted off my chest. And I just felt grace. I just felt good after that. I think that’s when the video was taken of me walking to the stretcher. And that’s why I look so relaxed. My family’s asking, ‘Why do you look so relaxed?’ Yeah, I look like I’m in pain, but I don’t look like I’m freaking out or yelling at anybody or anything like that. I just felt Joelle’s prayers were heard and that weight was lifted off for sure.”

On the day of the shooting, photos emerged of Pearsall calmly walking to a stretcher just moments after the shooting. He says he was able to remain calm because of Harrell’s encouragement and prayers.

“As soon as the doctors said I was going to be OK after they saw all the scans, X-rays and stuff like that, it was just like a big relief for me,” Pearsall said. “But before that, I had a sense of calmness to me already, and it was just because (of) Joelle.”

Pearsall Also Says Nothing Changes In Preparation For New Role

Also on the episode of 49ers talk that premiered Monday June 23, 2025, Pearsall discussed his new role with the 49ers.

With former 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel now with the Washington Commanders and WR Brandon Aiyuk injured, Pearsall figures to be the #2 wide receiver when the season opens.

But despite the new role, Pearsall hasn’t changed a thing about how he’s preparing.

“My mindset has not changed at all. I’m going to attack it the exact same way I always have,” Pearsall said. “No matter what place I’m at, no matter what the coach tells me, I still have that wide receiver 1 mindset. That’s just how I was raised. I’ve always been a hard worker. My parents raised me that way, and I’ve always had that same mindset no matter what position you’re in. That’s just how I attack my life in general.”

To be productive, Pearsall will need to overcome his early career injury history.

What do you think, 49ers fans? Can Ricky Pearsall put together a 1,000 yard season for the 49ers in 2025?

Ethan Inman is a sports journalist covering the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders for heavy.com. He also co-hosts a college football podcast for The Voice of College Football, and writes about the NBA and MLB. He has previously covered the USC Trojans, the NHL, college baseball, and the intersection of sports and popular culture for other publications. He is based in the greater Los Angeles area. More about Ethan Inman