The rookie minicamp kicked off Thursday at the San Francisco 49ers’ SAP Performance Facility, officially signaling the return of football. Coordinators spoke with the media before the first practices got underway.
Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris, Offensive Coordinator Klay Kubiak, and Special Teams Coordinator Brant Boyer highlighted the new additions to the roster, this year’s draft class, player development, and their goals for the 2026 season.
During the 2026 NFL Draft, San Francisco turned six picks into eight selections, adding WR De’Zhaun Stribling, RB Kaelon Black, OL Carver Willis, and OL Enrique Cruz Jr. on offense, along with DL Romello Height, DL Gracen Halton, CB Ephesians Prysock, and LB Jaden Dugger on defense. The 49ers also brought in eight undrafted rookie free agents, who are expected to participate in the rookie minicamp.
Here are seven key takeaways from Thursday’s press conferences:
1. The 49ers Believe They Added Players Who Will Make an Impact This Offseason
The coordinators repeatedly emphasized the talent added through free agency and the draft, specifically mentioning WR Mike Evans and several standout rookie players.
Kubiak called Evans “a Hall of Fame receiver” and “a matchup you can exploit,” adding that Evans “is one of the most competitive players out there.”
Morris, who previously faced Evans in the NFC South for several seasons, said the veteran receiver is “a thorn in the side of whoever is defending him because he has so many skills and different resources he can use.”
Morris also joked that “there are definitely people who deserve a pool party” on both offense and defense in this year’s draft class, after President of Football Operations and General Manager John Lynch referenced Morris’s excitement during a pre-draft meeting.
2. Morris: “In the Business of Being Nosy”
Morris enters his first season with San Francisco after previously serving as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Throughout his coaching career, he has worked on both sides of the ball, which he believes gives him a unique perspective as a defensive coach.
“All of our career has been about being in the business of being nosy,” Morris said.
He explained that his time working alongside Head Coach Kyle Shanahan during one of Shanahan’s early stops as an offensive coordinator in Atlanta helped him better understand offensive concepts, quarterback reads, and how to communicate defensive adjustments to his players.
“You can actually speak their language,” Morris said. “Being able to explain it to your players in a completely different way, I’ve enjoyed the process of being able to flip the switch back and forth.”
That shared mindset has also helped forge Morris’s long-standing relationship with Shanahan.
“There aren’t many coaches in the NFL who can say they can coach both sides of the ball,” Morris said. “I feel truly blessed. I really think it’s a definite benefit to be able to work with Kyle and be around these kinds of people.”
3. Kubiak Shares the Vision for Offensive Draft Selections
Kubiak emphasized that the rookie minicamp serves as an introduction to the playbook and an opportunity for players to begin learning the systems.
“You want them to start getting into the facility and into the playbook a little bit,” Kubiak said. “You know how we want to work.”
