Shortly after defensive coordinator Robert Saleh's introductory press conference, it was special teams coordinator Brant Boyer's turn to speak to the media for the first time since being hired by the San Francisco 49ers.
Boyer comes to the The Bay by way of the New York Jets after serving as a special teams coordinator there for nine seasons. Prior to his time with the Jets, he held coaching positions and internships with the Cleveland Browns (2009), New York Giants (2010), and Indianapolis Colts (2012-15). Boyer also enjoyed an 11-season playing career as a linebacker and special teams ace for three NFL organizations.
Now with San Francisco, he's been tasked with elevating a unit that endured its fair share of injuries and some miscues in 2024.
"I'm here to do the best job I can and create a culture that it shouldn't be like punishment to play special teams," Boyer said. "I think teams around the league, that moniker comes out like, 'Oh man, I don't want to play special teams.' It shouldn't be like that. You know? That's how I made a living. That's how a lot of people make a living in this league. If you can create a culture that the guys know you give a damn about them, they're going to play for you. That's what I'm trying to do."
Boyer's mission to reenergize special teams play in San Francisco has been supported by both president of football operations/general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. Early in free agency, San Francisco signed proven special teams contributors in long snapper Jon Weeks, tight end Luke Gifford, and cornerback Siran Neal, among others.
"I think that's a sign that this organization takes special teams seriously and I think it's really positive. I really do," Boyer said.
The addition of Weeks, a 15-season veteran, was geared towards "getting the operation right" for third-year kicker Jake Moody. He started 2024 going 13-of-14 in field goal attempts before suffering a high ankle sprain that kept him off the field for four weeks and affected him in the second half of the season.
"There isn't a special teams coach in this league that didn't have him rated number one coming out that I know of," Weeks said. "He's as talented of a kid as it gets. I think that the injury issue where he was fighting injuries going back and forth, I think that had a lot to do with it. I think that us bringing in Weeks is going to help. I think that if the kid gets his mind right, which I think he's doing - he's doing a hell of a job for us so far."
Special teams continued to stay top of mind during the 2025 NFL Draft. With the team's final selection of the weekend, the 49ers picked up wide receiver and return specialist Junior Bergen out of Montana. Bergen closed out his college career tied for the most punt return touchdowns in NCAA FCS history with eight and holds the Montana school record for average yards per punt return at 16.71 (1,136 on 68 returns total).
"You know, you're betting on the kid," Boyer said. "Obviously, my son plays at Montana. He was as productive of a returner as it gets out there. If you want to say he has the it factor, I think he does. He's one of the hardest workers on the team. He's a great kid. He's going to come in here and do everything he can to make this football team. Teams tried to kick away from him all the time and any opportunity that they gave him, he made the most of it. That's what you're looking for."
With plenty of new faces on the 49ers special teams, the next order of business is to establish a mindset Boyer believes will change the game for the unit in 2025.
"At the end of the day, this is a violent game played by men, and special teams is a one-on-one matchup 90 percent of the time. And, it's either you or him," Boyers noted. "That's my whole mindset that I'm trying to get these guys to understand is, it's either you or me, and it's going to be you, period. That's the whole mindset that I want these guys to understand, that we're here for them. We're here to make them better. That's what it comes down to. If I can make them better, we're all in good shape because it'll help this football team."
