Wes Welker is in his first season as the 49ers wide receivers coach. He joined San Francisco after spending the previous two years (2017-18) with the Houston Texans as the team’s offensive/special teams assistant.
The 2018 Texans finished the season with the fifth-most punt return yards (327) in the NFL and ranked tied for seventh after averaging 24.4 yards per kick return. WR DeAndre Hopkins registered career highs in receptions (115) and receiving yards (1,572) to go along with 11 touchdown receptions. He receiving yardage total ranked second in the NFL as he also averaged 98.3 receiving yards per game. Rookie WR Keke Coutee added 28 receptions for 287 yards (10.3 average) and one touchdown in six games played.
In his first season on the Texans staff in 2017, Hopkins was named Associated Press First-Team All-Pro for the first time in his career after finishing with 96 receptions for 1,378 yards and a franchise-record 13 touchdowns, making him one of 14 players in NFL history, at that time, to post those numbers in a season and the third-youngest ever to do so. Hopkins finished the season ranked sixth in the NFL in receptions (96), fourth in receiving yards (1,378), first in receiving touchdowns (13), fourth in receiving first downs (69), first in receptions of 25-or-more yards (17) and third in 100-yard receiving games (five).
In 2017, Hopkins (13 receiving touchdowns) and WR Will Fuller V (seven) combined for 20 receiving touchdowns, which was the most by any pair of teammates in the NFL on the season and the most by any pair of teammates in franchise history. The Texans had two receivers with seven-or-more touchdown receptions in a season one other time in franchise history (2008). Fuller V registered 28 receptions for 423 yards (15.1 average) and a single-season career-high seven touchdowns in 10 games. He scored a touchdown on seven of his first 11 receptions of the season.
The Texans scored 30-or-more points six times in 2017, which tied the franchise record for the most games with 30-or-more points in a season (2012). Houston also threw for the third-most passing touchdowns in a single season in franchise history (28) and the most completions of 25-or-more yards in a single season in franchise history (38).
Welker played 12 seasons in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers (2004), Miami Dolphins (2004-06), New England Patriots (2007-12), Denver Broncos (2013-14) and St. Louis Rams (2015). He appeared in 175 games (102 starts) and registered 903 receptions for 9,924 yards and 50 touchdowns. On special teams, he returned 183 kickoffs for 4,138 yards (22.6 average) and one touchdown along with 264 punts for 2,584 yards. He also saw action in 13 postseason contests (11 starts) and added 88 receptions for 866 yards and five touchdowns.
One of the most decorated undrafted players of all time, Welker was a four-time AP All-Pro [First-Team (2009 & 2011) & Second-Team (2007-08)] honoree, selected to the Pro Bowl five times (2009-13) and led the NFL in receptions three times (2007, 2009 & 2011). He also holds the record for most receptions by an undrafted wide receiver in NFL history (903) to go along with 9,924 career receiving yards and 50 career receiving touchdowns. Welker appeared in three Super Bowls (XLII, XLVI & XLVIII) throughout his career and registered 26 receptions for 247 yards.
Welker was selected to the Pro Bowl or All-Pro Team in every season with the Patriots. He holds numerous franchise records for New England, including the five highest single-season reception totals in Patriots history (2007-09 & 2011-12) and the franchise record for receiving yards in a season (1,569 in 2011). Additionally, he holds the franchise records for most receptions in a single game (16), most receiving yards in a single game (217), longest reception (99 yards) and most career receptions (672). Welker was the first player in NFL history to put together five seasons with 100-or-more receptions and is still the only player in NFL history with five years with 110-or-more receptions.
From 2004-06, Welker put up the second most all-purpose yards (6,216) in NFL history in a player’s first three seasons, trailing only Gale Sayers, and still holds the Dolphins all-time records for total kickoff returns (166), kickoff return yardage (3,756) and total punt returns (127). Welker spent the 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Broncos, where he participated in his third Super Bowl, and then played eight games for the Rams in 2015 before retiring from the NFL.
Welker attended Texas Tech University where he registered 259 receptions for 3,019 yards and 21 touchdowns to go along with 79 rushes for 456 yards and two touchdowns. As a punt returner, he scored eight touchdowns in his college career, which was tied for the NCAA record. In 2003, Welker won the Mosi Tatupu Award, given annually to the best special teams player in college football, and was named to the Sports Illustrated All-Decade Team as a punt returner. Welker and his wife, Anna, have two children: son, Carter, and daughter, Caroline.
