John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
49ers’ Joe Staley is excited for next season and wants Levi’s Stadium ‘loud and rowdy’
Jan 10, 2018 at 10:00 AM
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Discouraged by a nagging injury and what he perceived as poor play, San Francisco 49ers left tackle Joe Staley considered making the 2017 season his last in the NFL.
"I wasn't coming into work with the same kind of enthusiasm that I usually come in with,"
Staley told Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area during a recent podcast interview.
At the time, the 49ers were winless under new head coach Kyle Shanahan and struggling to excite the fanbase.
"At that moment, it was like, 'Oh man, is this how my career is going to end with my knee acting up and not playing well?'" Staley continued.
A conversation with Shanahan turned things around for Staley, who finished the year as the second-highest graded tackle, according to Pro Football Focus. He did not allow a quarterback pressure during the 49ers' season finale against the Los Angeles Rams and allowed just three through the team's last five games.
RELATED Joe Staley explains why finishing his career with the 49ers is important to him
Staley just completed his 11th NFL season and is once again excited to be part of the 49ers' future. During the season, he had discussions with his wife regarding retirement. Now, Staley tells her to expect him to play football for "a little bit longer."
Staley is excited about how the 49ers' 2017 season ended. The team finished by winning six of its last seven games and five consecutive victories with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm of the offense. Staley gives most of the credit to Shanahan, who kept the locker room together throughout the 0-9 start.
"That's why this year was so special,"
Staley said at the conclusion of the season. "I mean, 6-10 at the end of the season but I don't think there's a team in the NFL that would want to see us right now in the playoffs. And we've just got to carry that momentum into the offseason and continue to work like we did this year in the second half. We're excited about that."
Over a week after making those comments, Staley remains excited. He took to Twitter very early on Wednesday (or very late on Tuesday night -- depending on your perspective) and shared his enthusiasm for next season, which included a clip from his recent Pepsi commercial.
Staley also made a request of the Niner Faithful for next season -- get loud and rowdy at Levi's Stadium.
h/t to José Garcia for the find.
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