Trent Williams, the San Francisco 49ers’ star offensive tackle, ended his holdout on Wednesday and rejoined the team after agreeing to a new contract.
The 11-time Pro Bowler cited an emotional reason for his return: the recent near-fatal shooting of rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall.
Pearsall was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery over the weekend but thankfully survived the ordeal.
Fortunately, the 17-year-old punk who attempted to murder Pearsall has been arrested and is facing charges.
The disgraceful incident left a profound impact on Williams, who felt a strong pull to return to his teammates in the aftermath.
“In my mind I’m like, ‘Man I just want to get back, get around the team,'” Williams said. “Ricky stood out to me because when I popped in for OTAs for about the 30 minutes I was here, he did go out of his way to come and introduce himself to me.”
He added, “For him to come up and kind of introduce [himself], and I just instantly felt this vibe and could just feel he’s such a genuine person. So seeing that happen, I’m like ‘Man I just want to get back β¦ and be there for the team.'”
Williams’ return is expected to have a significant impact on the 49ers, both on the field and in the locker room.
The 36-year-old veteran, who has been named First Team All-Pro for three consecutive seasons, is not only one of the best tackles in NFL history but also commands immense respect from every one of his teammates.
Of course, it was only a matter of time before Williams rejoined the Niners. However, his love and loyalty to his teammates certainly shined through following the despicable Pearsall incident.
As far as actual football is concerned, what are your thoughts on the 49ers this season?
While they are arguably the best team (on paper) in the entire league, do you think they will finally be able to get over the hump and hoist the Lombardi Trophy come February???