Super Bowl LII between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles is just days away, and the first question on everyone's mind is probably, "Will Brian Hoyer finally be part of a Super Bowl win?" Okay, that's probably not anywhere near the top of anyone's list of questions (other than Hoyer's). Still, the quarterback is one of four notable former San Francisco 49ers players participating in Sunday's game.
Not included in the list is Eagles safety and special teams standout Chris Maragos, who was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury on October 19, 2017. He spent his rookie 2010 season with the 49ers, who brought him in as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin. Maragos has been with Philadelphia since 2014.
QB Brian Hoyer, Patriots
Hoyer was signed by the 49ers last March as NFL free agency kicked off. He was brought in to be the undisputed starter in Kyle Shanahan's first season as San Francisco's head coach. However, Hoyer was never seen by the fanbase as anything more than a bridge quarterback while the 49ers continued to search for a long-term answer.
Hoyer started the 49ers' first six games of the season and was benched in favor of rookie C.J. Beathard after losing each of his first five starts and falling behind the Washington Redskins in the sixth. During that time, he completed 58-percent of his passes for 1,245 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions.
The Hoyer experiment officially ended when the 49ers released the quarterback following a trade on October 30 to acquire Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots. Hoyer went on to sign with the Patriots, the team that brought him into the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2009, to fill Garoppolo's former role as Tom Brady's backup.
WR Torrey Smith, Eagles
"I believe we can win here and I want to be a part of it."
That may sound like a quote by Torrey Smith upon joining the Eagles, but it is actually what he said following the 49ers' hiring of Shanahan. Less than a month later, Smith was released and then signed by Philadelphia.
Smith never really fit into Shanahan's long-term plans. He never lived up to the free agency hype that surrounded him when he signed a five-year deal with the 49ers in 2015. In two seasons and 28 games played in San Francisco, Smith had just 53 catches for 930 yards and seven touchdowns. This season with Philadelphia, Smith had 36 receptions for 430 yards and two touchdowns.
Sunday will be Smith's second Super Bowl appearance. While much of the Niner Faithful has probably blocked out the memory of the game, Smith was part of the Baltimore Ravens team that won Super Bowl XLVII by beating the 49ers.
DL Ricky Jean Francois, Patriots
Ricky Jean Francois spent his first four NFL seasons with the 49ers, who made him a seventh-round draft pick in 2009. He spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins before signing with the Patriots in November of 2017. This season, Jean Francois appeared in six games with New England and started one. During that time, he has 10 combined tackles.
Jean Francois also started in New England's AFC Championship victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars and registered five combined tackles. He had a sack the week before against the Tennessee Titans.
Sunday will represent Jean Francois' second shot at a Super Bowl ring. He was with the 49ers during their Super Bowl XLVII run.
WR Chris Hogan, Patriots
Okay, this one almost doesn't count. Chris Hogan spent just over a month with the 49ers, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in late-July of 2011, and was never part of their 53-man roster. San Francisco released him following training camp, and that ends his ties to the 49ers.
Hogan bounced around the league before spending multiple seasons with the Buffalo Bills and finally landed with the Patriots in 2016. In two seasons with New England, he has 72 catches for 1,119 yards and five touchdowns.
Sunday will be Hogan's second-straight Super Bowl appearance.