Eric Branch
@Eric_Branch
Followers
49K
Following
4K
Media
13K
Statuses
56K
49ers beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle who had a childhood fascination with Johnny "Lam" Jones. Stumbling forward.
Bay Area
Joined September 2010
The person most responsible for the best start of Fred Warner’s career isn’t a coach, teammate or trainer and hasn't spoken a word to him since they first met in March. #49ers
13
49
914
Kyle Shanahan gave a game ball to his dad, Mike, who was fired by Washington owner Dan Snyder after 2013 season. #49ers.
75
642
6K
Mac Jones had a DUI. And Zach Wilson wasn't voted one of BYU's eight team captains last year. So why is there more talk about Justin Fields' character?. #49ers
276
705
5K
Nick Saban: “I’ve never been happier in my life … Ever.”. Nick Saban’s wife and children: “….”.
47
587
2K
The #49ers have held four straight opponents to 100 or fewer net passing yards. That hasn't happened in NFL since 1977.
23
515
2K
Former #49ers DT DeForest Buckner, a head-scratching Pro Bowl snub, was named a first-team All-Pro.
23
116
2K
A Packers fan just approached a #49ers fan who is wearing a John Taylor jersey at Milwaukee Airport. “Hey,” the Packers fan said, “good game last night.”.
56
53
2K
The 2021 #49ers and the 2013 49ers are the only teams in franchise history to win two road playoff games.
19
96
2K
Trey Lance just tossed a perfectly placed deep TD pass to WR Trent Sherfield, three snaps after taking his first training-camp snap behind the first-team offensive line. Go crazy, folks. #49ers.
83
168
2K
George Kittle on Trey Lance: "He looks a little bit better than a rookie quarterback." #49ers.
14
89
2K
Is this the Packers preseason secondary? Trey Lance deep TD pass to Danny Gray, who beat CB Patrick Peterson. #49ers
54
202
2K
Boyz II Men will sing the national anthem at the #49ers' season opener vs. the Jets on Monday night.
32
148
2K
In October, Solomon Thomas received a letter from Tony Hood, a 9-year-old boy who understood his grief: "I want you to know that you are not alone," the third grader wrote. "So I will be there for you any time that you are sad.” #49ers
53
286
2K
George Kittle said #49ers QB Brock Purdy has "cajones.". Deebo Samuel said Purdy didn't wait for Kyle Shanahan to call timeouts, which "takes nuts." . Shanahan: "He's got some balls out there.".
24
88
1K
1979 #49ers: 2-14.1980 49ers: 6-10.1981 49ers: 13-3 (SB win). 2016 49ers: 2-14.2017 49ers: 6-10.2018 49ers: ??.
59
688
1K
Trey Lance completed 20 of 24 passes in 7-on-7 work at his first practice at #49ers rookie minicamp. Completions were primarily screens and checkdowns. There was one drop. Initial evaluation: Canton.
35
98
1K
A rookie — I think his name is Trey Lance — lugging his teammates’ equipment after practice. #49ers
13
52
1K
Charvarius Ward's daughter, who was born with deficits that included a damaged heart, has made her father's heart bigger. She’s made a good man better with a love that made him whole. #49ers
19
65
1K
Bryant Young was the one to inform Patrick Willis that he'd been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. #49ers.
12
87
1K
Was privileged to speak with Charvarius Ward and his girlfriend, Monique Cook, for this story in February:. How Charvarius Ward was transformed through his daughter’s love .
14
69
1K
The #49ers have activated K Robbie Gould and C Hroniss Grasu from the reserve COVID-19 list. They are now available to watch the playoffs.
33
46
1K
I have personal news to share. My hands are trembling as I type this. Honestly, I never thought this day would come:. I'm verified.
128
26
1K
Game review: Daniel Brunskill blocked Aaron Donald one-on-one on 17 snaps Monday night. And the #49ers averaged 9.1 yards per play.
27
79
1K
Steve Young ranks second in NFL history in rushing TDs by a QB. Steve Young ranks fifth in rushing yards by a QB. Steve Young was fast. Steve Young being fast was not a secret.
People need to put more RESPECT on Steve Young's wheels. Dude was a secret speedster for the @49ers 💨💨💨. via @nflthrowback .
27
131
1K
George Kittle is unquestionably the NFL's best tight end with a broken bone in his ankle. #49ers.
13
129
1K
The #49ers are one of three teams to lose back-to-back conference title games and a Super Bowl in a four-season span. Is there a limit to how much big-game pain a franchise can endure?.
131
81
983
It appears Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch will be dealing with their friction through at least 2024. #49ers.
37
61
932
The #49ers will return 19 of their 22 starters from their loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
23
81
982
After enduring great heartache and anguish, #49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and his wife, Morgan, are finally parents.
10
70
921
Colin Kaepernick on Donald Trump’s “locker-room talk” -- “I haven’t heard our locker-room talk like that.” #49ers.
33
402
852
#49ers DE Nick Bosa said today that rookie DT Javon Kinlaw was a "really good kid.". Kinlaw, 22, is 20 days older than Bosa.
14
48
940
Coach Richard Sherman, who is not medically cleared, has been offering plenty of instruction to his teammates during DB drills. #49ers
39
192
914
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel thanks Kyle Shanahan at his introductory press conference: "I'm not sure what I'd be doing if it wasn't for him." #49ers.
2
44
918
128
101
911
Raheem Mostert has 11-yard run. Frank Clark: "You ain’t good enough. See me? I’m the only D-end you can’t block.”. George Kittle: "But you didn’t make the tackle. I blocked you . That was dumb.”. #49ers
23
91
911
Takeaway after #49ers first practice of training camp: Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance were both sharp; each had multiple whoa throws. Another takeaway: WR Brandon Aiyuk is skilled.
5
77
890
Nick Mullens has become first #49ers QB since Joe Montana (1985-86) to throw for 220-plus yards in nine straight starts.
20
128
884
Asked Kyle Shanahan: "What was your initial offer going to be for Aaron Rodgers?". KS: "You.". Beyond humbling, but not sure he's aware future HOF QBs can't be traded for beat writers. #49ers.
29
34
885
The #49es are allowing 3.81 yards per play, which would be the lowest figure in the NFL since 1977.
10
92
859
Nick Bosa needed an ACL reconstruction, and had a torn MCL and torn lateral meniscus, which was “sort of dislocated out of his knee.”. His surgeon confirmed what we suspected. What he's doing this season is stunning. #49ers
13
85
834
"I've never seen so many of the opposing team's fans at a game. And we came from Detroit." #49ers.
Kelly Stafford the wife of #Ramshouse QB Matthew Stafford has a message for Rams fans this Monday nite:. “Please Don’t sell your tickets to AZ fans”
27
97
842
The #49ers have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in their past 23 games, the NFL's longest active streak.
33
94
808
The #49ers won 9-0 in a downpour. And they won 48-46 in a dome. They won when Jimmy Garoppolo threw 8 passes. And they won a game — actually, three games — when Garoppolo threw 4 TD passes. Getting the idea?.
11
123
804
Kyle Shanahan on WR Dante Pettis: “He’s had his opportunities. The more he doesn’t take advantage of his opportunities, the less he opportunities he gets. He did get a couple last night because of injury and I didn’t think he made them.” #49ers.
74
96
776
Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance were not as impressive in today’s practice as they were Wednesday. Looking like a lost season, folks. #49ers.
111
28
780
George Kittle looking to 2021: ". When Nick Bosa's healthy, we're going to be just fine." #49ers.
17
34
774
Nick Bosa: “I think this year with turnovers, we’re not getting them and we’re giving them up too much. That’s a big sign of a losing team. And that’s what we are right now.” #49ers.
17
45
745
Since May: #49ers have had a RB tear his meniscus in the locker room, ended an OTA practice after players suffered a torn ACL and torn Achilles, had 3 RBs injured in 6 minutes, placed their kicker on IR after he got hurt in warm-ups and had both QBs injured in consecutive weeks.
89
123
744
Calvin Johnson and Patrick Willis both had dominant, relatively short careers. But Johnson was a first-ballot Hall of Famer and Willis has yet to be one of 15 finalists in his first two years of eligibility. I asked Hall voters: What's going on?. #49ers
30
89
737
#49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk said he saw Trey Lance yesterday and it seemed like QB had a “weight lifted” off him.
7
41
754
George Kittle on Jordan Matthews: "To be able to look yourself in the mirror and say, 'OK, the thing I’ve been doing my entire life isn’t working.' . And commit to gaining 25 pounds. And learning a new part of the playbook . I respect the hell out of him for that." #49ers.
5
30
737
#49ers now have 10 of 11 starters from NFL's second-ranked defense under contract. The exception: DeForest Buckner.
28
70
719
How did Jimmy Garoppolo look today?. Kyle Shanahan: “He looks good. Still handsome.” #49ers.
28
84
719
Nick Bosa said the #49ers weren't prepared for the read option the Chiefs used on the game-winning drive. And Kyle Shanahan called a timeout in OT because he didn't like a Cover 0 call. It was an appropriate end to Steve Wilks' bumpy debut season.
376
97
704
Talanoa Hufanga became the first #49ers safety voted to a Pro Bowl since Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner in 2012.
4
48
684
Eric Reid said ideas Colin Kaepernick had last year were presented to NFL owners on Tuesday. #49ers.
17
207
610
John Lynch was asked at the combine if the #49ers would part with Jimmy Garoppolo and pursue another QB this offseason:. "We’re extremely proud of Jimmy and committed to Jimmy moving forward. He’s our guy . He’s not come close to hitting his ceiling.”.
26
87
674
CB Richard Sherman played 58 of 59 snaps in his debut with the Bucs. Had team-high seven tackles and a fumble recovery. #49ers.
36
25
680
#49ers DE Jordan Willis was not on the punt-return team for the Packers first four punts Saturday. He was on the punt-return team for their fifth and final punt, which -- you might have heard about this -- he blocked.
2
17
676
#49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk has 45 catches for 568 yards and 4 TDs in his past 6 games. Those numbers over a 16-game season:.Catches: 120.Yards: 1,514.TDs: 11.
16
40
642
Garrett Celek was surprised by the outpouring his retirement announcement inspired. Said George Kittle of Celek's reaction: "He really doesn’t realize how many lives he’s impacted.”. #49ers
4
29
645
. #BREAKING via @mgafni @LaurenPorFavor: #49ers suspend broadcaster Tim Ryan for saying Lamar Jackson had advantage due to "dark skin with a dark football."
174
306
619
No need to panic, but definitely lose your mind if they lose to the Jets.
22
41
617