"One year after he was shot through the chest on the streets of downtown San Francisco, that near-death experience is never far from 49ers receiver Ricky Pearsall's mind. Where Pearsall's PTSD was an obstacle in the days, weeks and months after the shooting, he has used the past 365 days as an opportunity to reframe the incident in a way that he believes has allowed him to grow as a player and person."
"In the 24 hours after Pearsall was shot in an armed robbery attempt that took place while he was shopping, Pearsall laid in a hospital bed and asked anyone who would listen the two most pressing questions on his mind: Am I going to live and, if so, am I going to be able to play football again? The medical professionals quickly assured Pearsall he would live and, within the ensuing hours, that yes, a return to the football field would be in his future."
"As it turned out, Pearsall came back quicker than most anyone could have imagined, as he made his NFL debut 50 days after he was shot. From there, Pearsall's rookie season was anything but linear. Having already missed so much of training camp with a shoulder issue and then recovering from the gunshot wound, Pearsall had a solid start to his career with 11 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown in his first three games."
One year after being shot through the chest in a downtown San Francisco robbery, Ricky Pearsall continues to contend with PTSD while reframing the experience positively. He revisits the incident nightly but focuses on lessons, growth, and inspiring others. Within 24 hours of the shooting he worried about survival and his football future; medical staff assured him he'd live and could return to play. Pearsall made his NFL debut 50 days after the shooting. His rookie season featured early production—11 catches for 132 yards and a touchdown in his first three games—despite prior shoulder issues and an uneven trajectory.
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