In the NFL, sometimes the gap between a player's perception of himself and the reality of game film is wide. There are often too many people surrounding the player who tell him only what he wants to hear. Because of this, a young player can be easily convinced that he is better than he actually is. And when ego collides with unfiltered critique, the results can be explosive. Such was the case recently with San Francisco 49ers safety Ji'Ayir Brown.

In a video for "The Grit Code" podcast this week, former 49ers safety Donte Whitner pulled back the curtain on an interesting conversation. According to Whitner, Brown reached out directly via phone to him and legendary cornerback Richard Sherman. The goal? To "check" them for daring to analyze his lackluster play.


"Ji'Ayir f--king Brown calling me on the phone, trying to check me, telling me I can't talk bad about him when he has a bad play," Whitner revealed. "He called me and Richard Sherman on the phone, that he used to respect us and that we're not keeping it G because we told the truth about his deficiencies.

"Ain't that some bulls--t? You f--king know that you played like s--t last year."

When Whitner pressed Brown on whether he honestly believed he played like a top safety who deserved a Pro Bowl nod last season, Brown's answer was a definitive "Yeah." "I said, 'Ji'Ayir, honestly, do you feel like you played like a top safety last year?'" Whitner asked. "He said, 'Yeah.' I said, 'So, you felt like you should have made the Pro Bowl last year?' He was like, 'Yeah.' In that moment, I knew that the kid was just f--king delusional."

While I don't entirely agree with Whitner for putting this out there, he did. And what he shared makes me wonder how Brown will play moving forward. If he's tough mentally and if he is teachable, he'll be fine. If not, he will continue to struggle.

Confidence is mandatory to play in the NFL. It can help propel you. Arrogance, however, blinds us to the truth. Let me be clear: I don't have a problem with Brown reaching out to Whitner and Sherman. It's the lack of awareness, seeing himself as a Pro Bowler, and refusing to learn from guys who have been where he's going.


I thought Brown played well as a rookie in 2023 under Steve Wilks. He even picked off Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl. But since 2023, Brown has not played as well. And I've been critical of his play the past two seasons. (Of course, when he plays well, I have been more than happy to give him credit.)

The numbers back me up, too, painting a picture of a young defender who doesn't seem to be improving. Consider his 2025 season:


To look at that body of work and conclude that you played at a Pro Bowl level isn't just overly optimistic; it is a complete detachment from reality. And for me, it's not even the most concerning part. If Brown is too arrogant to heed advice from Whitner (a three-time Pro Bowler, at Brown's position, who made one of the most iconic defensive plays in 49ers postseason history) or Sherman (a future Hall of Famer), then I question how much he can improve.

I don't play safety for the San Francisco 49ers, but if I did, when players like Sherman and Whitner speak, I'd listen. These aren't casual talking heads hunting for clickbait—they are elite football minds who know exactly what championship-caliber execution looks like in a secondary. I disagree with Whitner often. But I still listen, and usually learn something.


Now, there is some hope that new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris can get more out of Brown. Morris, like Wilks, has a reputation for developing defensive backs. Maybe this marriage will benefit the young safety.

The 49ers are still entrenched in a championship window where patience for developmental errors is razor-thin. If Brown continues to care more about protecting his ego than protecting the back end of the defense, Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch will quickly find someone who values film over feelings.

The good news? Brown has the talent to do it, and he's still young. The question is, does he have the humility?

Written By:

Marc Adams


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