QB Josh Dobbs Press Conference

QB Josh Dobbs

Press Conference – July 31, 2024

San Francisco 49ers

What made you think that this was the right spot for you to sign as a free agent?

“I’ve had a lot of respect, obviously for [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] and the organization. And then obviously, playing for the Cardinals last year and playing against San Francisco, I think Brock had like a perfect game. I think he had one incompletion. So when the opportunity presented itself to be a part of, obviously, what’s been going on here, what’s been built here over the last several seasons, but also being in an offense, in a scheme that, learning from the guy that really created it within the NFL, I jumped at that opportunity.”

What was last year like for you, just in the whirlwind that it was going from team to team? How was that, how did that go for you?

“It was crazy. I think crazy is the simplest term to define it. It seemed like every time you kind of got settled, it was like, okay, let’s go learn a new offense, learn new teammates, learn a new city, and try to get reacclimated to go out and play good football. So it was, definitely was a crazy experience. But I enjoyed every aspect of it. I enjoyed the opportunity to go out, compete, put my best foot forward every single week and get that opportunity to lead from the front. I enjoyed the experience, but ideally don’t want to go through another crazy season such as that. But I take it one day at a time and embrace each opportunity that I’m given. Go out and make the most of them.”

Did it make you better?

“1000%.”

Can you look at the Cleveland system, Arizona and Minnesota, the 49ers, see similarities and pick things out?

“Definitely. There are always similarities, right? It is football at the end of the day. A lot of teams, especially those teams who are running a similar-esque system to what’s going on here, as I would say, maybe a derivative of this. But they’re all also different and they all have different personnel and different ways to attack the field. So to your initial question, did it make me better? 100%, because first off, you get a chance to go out and, start and play with the ones. That’s something I’ve been looking forward to throughout my entire career. Getting those real-life game reps, man, they’re invaluable. And then second, from a perspective standpoint, yes. Being able to be around different coaches that obviously have had a lot of success as head coaches and as offensive coordinators in the NFL, was really cool and very unique. To get the perspective of these offenses to continue to add different tools to my tool belt as I go out there and try to compete whenever I get my opportunity on the field.”

Watching the Super Bowl and seeing WR Jauan Jennings and some of those plays, did that bring back some memories?

“It did. I was so excited for him. I think I literally tweeted, I was like, ‘Jauan is about to be Super Bowl MVP,’ when everyone thought the Niners here were going to win last year’s game. So I was so excited for him. I know a couple plays were right there, right? It is just the difference between wins and losses in the NFL, especially in the Super Bowl, on that stage. But I was so excited to see him go out and really, be Jauan Jennings on the biggest stage of football. I remember when I was at Tennessee, he came in and he was a quarterback, he was like my little brother. We were doing squats together and everything. And so, to see his maturation from coming in as a quarterback to playing as a freshman in college at receiver to going five years at Tennessee and coming here and earning every opportunity he’s gotten and going out excelling to get on the biggest stage and do what he does. It’s been great to see his growth throughout his football career. I know he’s just scratching the surface of the player he can be.”

Are you responsible for having him go over to receiver?

“Am I responsible? So, I was going into my junior year, he was a freshman. He had have some time if he was going to play quarterback, either way, but it was a great opportunity for him to get on the field, to make an impact and he jumped at that opportunity. He jumps at any opportunity, as you guys know. So, I wouldn’t say I was responsible. I think it might’ve been something that was going to happen either way when he got to Tennessee, but he’s made the most of it for sure.”

That play where he threw the touchdown to you, when you’re watching the Super Bowl, it was obviously, I think very reminiscent. That went to running back, and you were the QB but how many similarities did you see?

“I saw them everywhere. Obviously, Tennessee media jumped at every single replay that they could make. And then I actually texted him, I think a couple weeks after the game because he was in Dallas, and we were about to work out together. I was like, ‘So did they ask you about your play from Florida, when you threw the touchdown to me?’ He said they didn’t ask him about it, but I’m sure they got it from somewhere knowing he could make that throw across the field. But it was cool to see. For him to throw a touchdown in the Super Bowl, not many guys can say that. Let alone not playing quarterback. Pretty cool memory for him.”

Do you know about the game against Arizona last year, talking about QB Brock Purdy on the other side? That was actually on the anniversary of the Hail Mary to Jauan.

“It was. I remember after the game, I think Jauan was out that game. But we got a picture because we had to get a picture, to signify the anniversary. So yeah, I remember that for sure.”

QB Brandon Allen was just in here talking about how everything is tied to the quarterback’s feet in this system. Is that emphasized here more than the other stops that you’ve played at?

“Yeah, I would say it definitely is the biggest point of emphasis in our QB room and it is emphasized a little bit more than other places. It shows just with the efficiency, how efficient the offense has been over the last several years. When you have a quarterback in there that’s very good with his footwork, his reads, his decision making, is decisive and gets the balls to the best weapons in the league, it shows how successful this offense can be and continues to be. It is a big point of emphasis. Us as a room collectively, I know I just got here and Brock has been here for going to his third year now, Brandon was here last year, [QB] Tanner [Mordecai], he’s learning it with me too. We’re all in there trying to refine our footwork, play with efficient feet, click through our reads as efficiently as possible, because we know if we get the ball out of our hands, we get the ball in our playmaker’s hands, then this offense can’t be stopped.”

Have you gotten more comfortable throughout training camp?

“1000%. You get more comfortable with reps. That’s just the nature of anything in life, right? Especially in football when you’re learning a new offense, and you have four offenses in your head at one time that you’ve learned in the last 365 days. It’s always a process. That’s why I love training camp. You get a chance to come out, compete, put your best foot forward every day. But also get those reps, they’re invaluable to be able to grow and improve each and every day. it’s July 31st right now, which is crazy to put things in perspective, it’s not even August yet. But the goal is, when you get out there for the first preseason game, you’re leaps and bounds from how you feel right now, just seven days into camp. And as you get to the second preseason game, third preseason game, the confidence, the comfort level, the efficiency with your footwork only grows. So that by September, first week, you hit the ground running. You’re ready to go play the best ball you can. So each day is an opportunity to grow and get better. Each day also is filled with new installs. So, you’re trying to process the new install and also not make the same mistake twice from yesterday as well. But each day you get an opportunity to go out there, you improve, you grow, you get more comfortable. And then you go out and you play the best football you can in the fall.”

You got hot last year, I think it was the comeback game against Atlanta. I think I remember WR Jauan Jennings saying something like ‘Astronaut Dobbs.’ How often do you talk to him or did he contact you during that run when you got really hot with Minnesota and kind of just talk about the other side of you with aerospace engineering and all that and how that helps you?

“Yeah, for sure. It was great to get the support from my former teammates. I got a lot of texts from a lot of guys that played with around the league, both during my time at Tennessee and some of my former teammates in the NFL. So yeah, it was really cool getting that support from former teammates, man because in general, especially as quarterback, you put your best foot forward, you never know when you’re going to get your opportunity. I know that goes for a ton of guys and their stories across the league. But the goal is whenever the opportunity comes, you’re ready to take advantage of it. So it’s good to be able to do that and it feels good to get the support from the guys. And so obviously you want to harness that momentum and continue to improve. Then to your second question in regards to aerospace engineering obviously is a passion of mine. It’s a very publicized passion of mine and I think everyone knows about the story, which I love because it’s what I love to do outside of football and I’ve always had a passion and affinity for aviation, aerospace engineering and I try to use my platform to show that. You can be an NFL football player, but also if you want to be really good at something else and you have the time and work ethic, you can also do that as well. So yeah, it is important to me. But while I’m here at camp, I’m focused on ball or in season, I’m focused on ball. And that’s being the best quarterback it can be for our room. And embracing whatever role that my spot entails and then I get my opportunity to go out there and play the best ball I can.”

This offseason, in regards to that passion of yours, were you in Canaveral?

“So I was not in Cape Canaveral. I went up to Cleveland for the eclipse which was very unique. My current goal in that world is I’m working on my pilot’s license. So I started that, actually during my time out here during OTAs, which was a lot of fun because it’s beautiful. Fly out to the coast, fly out to the valley. There’s a lot of airplanes in the air out here, that’s for sure. I didn’t notice that until I started training, but it’s a great place to learn to fly. So started that. But that’ll be all on the back burner obviously for the season. But yeah, that’s what I worked on this offseason. So I’ll continue to pick out different things throughout my off time in order to continue to grow iin that world. But while I’m here, it’s football season, my time and attention’s all on ball.”

Where are you on your hours?

“I think I have 35 of the 40 you need to get your private pilot’s license and then you work to your instrument rating. You keep growing from there. So we’re close. I haven’t taken my check ride yet. So it’s probably something I’ll hold off for after the season. But maybe get some practice in, go check out the mountains and stuff out here. But yeah, it’s just it’s very cool. It’s very pretty, very peaceful. A lot going on a little bit. But there’s actually a lot of crossover that talk to FAA, they repeat, they say a call, you got to repeat it back to them very specifically. You got a lot of stuff going on. It’s just like what you’re saying in the pocket. You got to call out one of coach [head coach Kyle] Shanahan’s plays. They get real wordy in there. So it’s been good crossover between the two.”

Are you trying to fly like spacecraft ultimately?

“I like flying planes. I think spacecraft, they don’t make them with wings anymore. So I think there’s a lot of automation, nowadays, technology taking over different from the sixties and stuff. It will be like hand flying, getting up there. So no flips or anything. We don’t do anything too crazy though.”