On Wednesday, Kyle Juszczyk spoke with reporters via Zoom just days after agreeing to return to the San Francisco 49ers on a five-year, $27 million deal. While the fullback had previously expressed an interest in moving to the East Coast to be closer to family, he's happy that he doesn't have to go through the process of actually moving and familiarizing himself with a new organization.
"I just feel so connected to this organization, and I feel like I'm such a part of it," Juszczyk said, "that when the realization and the possibility of leaving here came on the table, it definitely hit home. It pulled on my heartstrings. I knew it was something that I didn't necessarily want to do, but it was a possibility."
Juszczyk was asked if he spoke with any other teams — maybe an East Coast one with a certain former 49ers defensive coordinator as its head coach.
"As far as the New York Jets go, I mean, I signed before free agency started, so I didn't really talk to anybody," the fullback said with a small wink and a laugh. "So, I can't really speak too much on that. I just know that I'm happy to land where I did."
While the possibility of moving closer to family was appealing, it was never going to be the deciding factor in any decision.
"My side of the family is from Cleveland," explained Juszczyk. "My wife's side is from Long Island. And so just anything closer was just going to be easier. But I've spoken openly that that wasn't the only factor into where I wanted to play. That was one of the few factors — was location. But familiarity with the system, comfortability, being on a team that can contend, and a team that's ready to win, and a team that was going to give me a good offer, and that I could play for the right amount of money that I wanted to.
"The Niners didn't check the box of being on the East Coast, but they definitely, definitely checked the boxes everywhere else."
Juszczyk added that few other teams value a fullback as the 49ers do, which also influenced his decision. Plus, he feels that, despite last year's blip, the 49ers can immediately jump back into contention. Juszczyk said waking up on Wednesday morning to the news that San Francisco had re-signed Trent Williams and was signing Alex Mack "felt like Christmas."
"I do feel like we are ready to win," Juszczyk commented. "I feel like we are healthy. We have added players. We've kept players. We've gained experience over the past couple of years. I think all arrows are trending up for us."
Added Juszczyk: "I speak with (George) Kittle regularly, just about his we've got what it takes. Yeah, adding a few pieces and everything is no doubt going to help, but even if we don't, we feel like we do have a squad ready to go that, when healthy, is ready to win a championship."