If anyone has earned the right to speak to the 49ers, it’s Joe Staley. He’s in his 11th season with the team and he’s survived multiple head coaches and persistent trade rumors. He was on last year’s 14-loss team and he’s been to the Super Bowl.
So when Staley conquered his fear about public speaking on Saturday night and rose to speak to his teammates about his experience, players listened.
“It came from the heart,” Staley said in the winning locker room after the 49ers beat the Giants 31-21 on Sunday afternoon. Staley paraphrased what he told the team. “Trust me when I say, we are really close,” Staley recounted. “All we need is confidence and a belief system.”
Staley also told the team that the talent in the NFL is close and that players merely need to believe in themselves and trust that the work they do during the week will come to fruition on Sunday.
When Staley shattered his eye socket two weeks ago in Philly, coach Kyle Shanahan told the media Staley wouldn’t return until after the bye, which starts this week. But Staley texted Shanahan early in the week and said he could play.
“It was big to have Joe back in there,” quarterback C.J. Beathard said. “He’s an All-Pro guy, not only to have him on the field but in the huddle; it gives your team more confidence.”