HONOLULU – Although the complimentary watches given out at the Pro Bowl seem to be getting nicer every year,
Akers wants himself a Super Bowl ring, and he wants it bad.
The 49ers kicker who just finished his 13th season in the NFL is making his sixth appearance in the league’s annual All-Star game. This, being his first time playing in the game as a representative of the 49ers.
The All-Pro kicker signed with the 49ers prior to the start of training camp on the strength of his relationships with the Harbaugh family: Jack Harbaugh once recruited him to play collegiately at Western Kentucky, and John Harbaugh served as his special teams coordinator during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Now, after a season in which Akers made more field goals (44) than any kicker in league history and saw the veteran specialist break the NFL and 49ers single-season scoring record (166 points), Akers can finally catch his breath and realize how successful of a year it was for him in San Francisco.
“It’s just fun to take a minute aside from the season because we kind of hit the ground running and now we can have some time just to enjoy the fruits of the season and reflect on everything,” Akers said on Friday following the NFC team photo shoot.
The serene environment of the Hawaiian islands has helped Akers move on from the 49ers loss in the NFC Championship game, something he’s experienced six other times with the Eagles, who were seemingly always in contention for a Super Bowl with Akers on the roster.
“Any time you come out to a beautiful place like this and you hang around so many wonderful athletes,” began Akers as his young son Sawyer ran over yelling, “Daddy, Daddy!” “All the people out here all want to be the same place that the Patriots and the Giants are right now.”
Despite not being in Indianapolis competing for the Super Bowl ring he covets, Akers takes extreme enjoyment from being with his wife and children who made the trip to Hawaii.
In fact, Akers hasn’t been around his family for the past month.
During the regular season, the Akers clan moved West to be close to David in the Bay Area. But once the season was over, they moved back to their home in Philadelphia
Still, Akers said he appreciated the 49ers organization for giving him a stable routine which allowed him to spend time with his family during the year.
“Football itself is the only calming part we had as a family,” Akers said. “It was the only thing that was a constant.”
And with Akers making so many trips to Hawaii being one of the best kickers in the league on a consistent basis, he makes sure to keep a similar island routine year-to-year.
“We definitely go whale watching and we’ll go out today,” Akers shared. “Honestly, I just enjoy family time hanging out in the lagoon. We’ve done all kinds of activities. This year it’s some chill time with the kids.”
Akers will stay a few days longer with his family in Hawaii. Clearly, he’s not ready to head back to the cold weather Philadelphia has to offer.
Then it’s a matter of preparing for his second season in San Francisco and continuing the success built under coach Jim Harbaugh.
Despite offensive assistant Bobby Engram moving on to be the wide receiver coach at the University of Pittsburgh, Akers is hopeful to work again with the entire coaching staff. A group that includes special teams coordinator Brad Seely, who reportedly interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts for their head coaching position.
“I was actually pulling for Brad to get that head job in with the Colts,” Akers admitted. “I just think he’s an amazing coach as a special teams coach but I think he’s got more to offer, even more than that.”
But if Seely and the rest of the staff returns for another season, Akers sees it being a huge benefit for a 49ers team that has had severe changeover in the coaching staff in recent years.
“That’s a great thing for players,” Akers said. “You have to understand, there’s been so much changeover with the 49ers for so many years. Obviously they were all new to me this year, but just to have a couple of years with the same guys and there’s a consistent basis on how they coach and what the daily routine is, that’s a big thing for players just to know what to expect.
“Now we’ve been through it one year, hopefully we just win two more games than we did this last year.”
So while Akers set personal and league bests in 2011, the established kicker could truly care less about the accomplishments.
It’s the Vince Lombardi Trophy, and the Super Bowl ring, that he ultimately craves.
“That stuff doesn’t really register,” Akers said. “I don’t know, it’s not like I don’t care, it’s a great honor, but I’d like to have the Super Bowl ring. I’ve got the watches here, it’s cool each year they’ve gotten better with the watches, but we really need to have a Super Bowl ring and that’s what we’re fighting for, a coveted ring.”