Kyle Juszczyk spent his first four NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before signing with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. The best fullback in the league re-signed with the team in March, ensuring he remains in the Bay Area through the 2025 season.
It sounds like Juszczyk has no regrets about the decision to remain with head coach Kyle Shanahan. It's an offensive scheme that suits him and takes advantage of his unique versatility. Juszczyk may not have had the same opportunities with another organization.
"I definitely have had the most fun in San Francisco because I am a little more featured," Juszczyk said this week on The Ross Tucker Football Podcast. "'Featured' is different as a fullback. I'm not the featured halfback or the No. 1 receiver. ... I'm very much featured in the run game, being at the point of attack, and setting the tone for where we're going in the run game.
"I really do have so much fun with it but also, a lot of what I do, I wouldn't be able to do if it weren't for, one, Kyle (Shanahan) and Mike McDaniel, our now offensive coordinator, kind of their vision, and putting me in those roles and in those spots. But also, their vision for other guys on the field that, if you want to play in Kyle's offense, all 11 guys have to be willing to block. That includes your No. 1 receiver."
Juszczyk noted Julio Jones' willingness to block when Shanahan was the offensive coordinator in Atlanta. The 49ers coaching staff values versatility in its players and brings in guys it can depend on to assist in all facets of the offense.
"It doesn't matter who you are," Juszczyk continued. "You have to be willing to block. I think back to this (past) year. I think it was the opening play against the Jets; Raheem Mostert went like 80 yards for a touchdown. We put our Z receiver, Kendrick Bourne (now with the Patriots), on the middle linebacker and had him swap out with me, and I'm blocking the corner. In the play, you see me at the point of attack, blocking the corner. But the only way you can do that is somebody takes my spot and can block that inside linebacker.
"Kyle and Mike McDaniel, they just do such a good job of being able to put myself and all the other guys in positions that they can be successful and know this receiver, we can trust him to block an inside linebacker or crack down on a defensive end, or any of those kinds of things. They just do a really good job of putting everybody in those positions."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Juszczyk below.