Special Teams Coordinator Brant Boyer Press Conference

Special Teams Coordinator Brant Boyer

Press Conference – May 8, 2025

San Francisco 49ers

It’s been reported that you really liked WR Junior Bergen quite a bit. Tell us what you like about Bergen.

“You know, you’re betting on the kid. Obviously, my son plays at Montana. He was as productive as a returner as it gets out there. If you want to say he has the it factor, I think he does. He’s one of the hardest workers on the team. He’s a great kid. He’s going to come in here and do everything he can to make this football team. Teams tried to kick away from him all the time and any opportunity that they gave him, he made the most of it. And that’s what you’re looking for. We’re wanting to create competition at every level, at every position on this team. And that’s special teams included. That’s what you’ve seen with us picking up a kid like that. And he’s a hell of a kid and I think he’s going to come in here and he is going to work his tail off and hopefully it works out. Whoever makes the team, who doesn’t, we’re going to make a difference in the return game.”

When you came here, did head coach Kyle Shanahan pretty much give you carte blanche or did you have a lot of input into how special teams would be constructed from a personnel standpoint?

“Well, I think it’s been very, very positive from Kyle and [president of football operations/general manager] John [Lynch] as far as what our needs were and everything like that. And I think you see some of the needs hopefully getting addressed. I think with them signing [LS John] Weeks and when a player like that becomes available when a player like [CB] Siran Neal becomes available when, when [LB] Luke Gifford becomes available, guys that are good special teamers, guys that are proven in the league. I think that’s a sign that this organization takes special teams seriously and I think it’s really positive. I really do.”

There’s been a lot of ups and downs the first two years of K Jake Moody. You come in with a fresh set of eyes on him. What’s your early take on the competition or just how things stand with him?

“Well, I think that there isn’t a special teams coach in this league that didn’t have him rated number one coming out, that I know of. He’s as talented as a kid as it gets. I think that the injury issue where he was fighting injuries going back and forth, I think that had a lot to do with it. I think that us bringing in Weeks is going to help. I think that if the kid gets his mind right, which I think he’s doing, he’s doing a hell of a job for us so far. I think he’ll do a heck of a job for us. I really do.”

Do you expect him to be your kicker?

“Well, yeah. I mean, it all comes down to what happens in the preseason and everything, just like in any other position for sure.”

Why do you think Weeks and Moody are kind of related there? What does Weeks bring that will help Jake?

“Well, I just know from experience playing against Weeks. I tried to rush him all the time, couldn’t get him. Talking to the guy, hearing everything about him from everybody in the league, that there’s nothing, not a bad word being said about the guy. Always appreciated the way he snapped the ball. Always appreciated the way he picked for his guys and the way, he’s more of a picker than a cover guy. But when you ask him to cover kicks and everything like that, he has no problem doing any of it and he will tackle. So, when a guy becomes available like that, I think that’ll settle down the position a little bit. You’re trying to get the operation right. And I think that the changes that we’ve made and the operation is smooth, I think it’ll be a positive for this organization for sure.”

You mentioned Jake Moody getting his mind right. What is he doing off the field to make sure that he’s confident?

“Well, I don’t know if it’s getting his mind right, but I think finally being healthy is a huge deal. I think, like I said, adding Weeks is a big deal for him so that total operation being smooth and everything like that will certainly help the kid for sure.”

If you ask Kyle, I think he would say his message about special teams is being misinterpreted, but last year and in the past, he said we don’t want special teams to win games, we just want to make sure they don’t lose them. It’s kind of like, well, to be as good as possible. Did you hear that? Is that a question you had during your interview? Or if not, do you understand what he’s saying?

“All I know from guys is, I don’t know what’s said in the past or what’s done in the past, I’m here to do a job and my job is to help this team win, period. I mean, in this league, you’ve got win two out of three phases, whether that’s special teams/offense, special teams/defense or offense/defense. You’ve got to win two out of three. I’m here to do the best job I can, create a culture that it shouldn’t be like punishment to play special teams. And I think teams around the league, that moniker comes out like, ‘oh man, I don’t want to play special teams.’ It shouldn’t be like that. You know? That’s how I made a living. That’s how a lot of people make a living in this league. And if you can create a culture that the guys know you give a damn about them, they’re going to play for you. And that’s what I’m trying to do.”

What impact do you think the new touchback to the 35-yardline is going to have on the rate of kickoff returns?

“I think it’s going to be huge. I think you’re going to get a minimum of 70-80-percent returns. Instead of what was it last year? It was like 30-percent. It’s going to skyrocket. Nobody’s going to give up a 35-yardline drive start, in my opinion.”

How much does that put on Jake on doing the kickoffs, the positioning of the kickoffs and that part of it?

“Well, I think your kicker’s going to obviously have a huge, huge role in that. But you know, also how much we work on kickoff and everything like that, two or three years ago you didn’t have to work on kickoff very much because most of the people were booting them out the back of the end zone, right? But now you have to kick it in the field of play or you’re going to give up that drive start, and nobody wants to do that.”

Through all your experience with special teams, is there anything new you’ve learned by having a son that’s a kicker?

“That’s a good question. I don’t know. I think that if you ask my son, he don’t listen to dad very much, which all fathers I’m sure would probably tell you the same thing. Doesn’t matter my experience or not. But he’s done a hell of a job and I think he’s moving on to coaching. He’s getting into coaching now, so I kept trying to talk him out of that one too, but unfortunately didn’t get it done.”

Looking at last year’s tape, what’s the number one thing that needs to be corrected on special teams?

“Overall mindset, guys. At the end of the day, this is a violent game played by men, and it’s a, special teams, is a one-on-one matchup 90-percent of the time. And it’s either you or him. And what it comes down to and that’s my whole mindset that I’m trying to get these guys to understand is, it’s either you or me and it’s going to be you, period. And that’s the whole mindset that I want these guys to understand that we’re here for them, we’re here to make them better. And that’s what it comes down to. And if I can make them better, we’re all in good shape because It’ll help this football team.”

How beneficial has it been for you to have assistant special teams coach Colt Anderson another head special teams coordinator, he has that experience helping you on your staff here?

“It’s been awesome. I mean, I’ve known Colt since he was playing when I was in as the assistant in Indianapolis. And he always was the smartest guy and one of the hardest workers and stuff like that. And you know, he lived, him and his family lived next to my family and so, he’s in Montana and we’re building a place in Montana, like there’s a lot of synergies there. And I’ve always kept in touch with him. And our third [special teams quality control Ronald] Ronnie Blair [III] is doing a hell of a job as well. So, you know, I think there’s 25 or 26 years of playing experience between the three of us, and I think that is going to help and go a long way. I really do.”

What’s your perspective on coaching under defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and now coming here with him and you’re both coordinators on the same staff?

“I think it’s awesome. I think that the way I’ve seen him treat people and the positivity that comes out of him and the man that he is that I’ve got to know through the years and now being here with him again, it’s awesome. He is a hell of a football coach and a hell of a guy.”

As it relates to Junior and just other, you know, gifted punt returners in your playing career of course, your career, what is the, I guess is there a special quality as far as a sense of where people are on the field or what is it that makes a great punt returner?

“It’s a very good question. Number one, can you catch the ball and make great decisions? And I think that it starts there, right? Because the last thing you want to do is give up a possession. Because you give up a possession and that’s winning and losing in this game. Some people have like a unique skill to set up blockers, and I always tell our return teams that the returner is the best blocker that you’ve got. Some people know how to set them up and everything like that. Listen, he’s got it, and he’s got really good vision. He’s got a really good run skill. But we’ve got a whole group of returners from [WR Ricky] Pearsall to [WR Jacob] Cowing to [WR Trent] Taylor to all those guys that are going to compete for that job. And it’ll be interesting to see how it shakes out. I’m excited to see where it goes.”