By Andy Villamarzo
Hernando Sun sports staff writer
BROOKSVILLE- It sure sounds like the San Francisco 49ers are preparing to make another deep playoff run with much of the same roster from a year ago and a local Hernando County favorite will be back with them.
Former Nature Coast Technical running back Matt Breida signed a one-year tender to re-sign with San Francisco for the 2020 season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Breida joins an already crowded backfield that includes Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, Jeff Wilson Jr. and Jerick McKinnon. Now Breida will look to retain some of the carries he had earlier in the season before getting leapfrogged by Mostert and Coleman.
Breida re-signing with the 49ers brings an interesting problem for San Francisco, as the club has one of the more talented backfield units in the NFL. But the main issue is how to keep all the talented ball carriers happy while being on the roster together. That will be a situation handled by head coach Kyle Shanahan, who is also the team’s play-caller.
Before being displaced by Mostert and Coleman, Breida was one of the team’s leading rushers. Injuries and fumbling problems became Breida’s sore spot with Shanahan, as the tailback rushed for 623 yards on 123 carries and scored one touchdown. Breida also played a part in the 49ers’ special teams, as the former Georgia Southern star had a lot of snaps in Super Bowl LIV via kickoffs and punting situations.
The 49ers fell 31-20 against the Kansas City Chiefs, who won its first Super Bowl in over 50 years. With the win, Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid takes home his first championship as a head coach in the NFL. For Breida, he saw his rushing production in the backfield for the 49ers decline as the NFL playoffs continued to dig deeper down the stretch. In victories against the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers, Breida played sparingly at running back.
Breida offered a message via Twitter to his over 61,000 followers after the announcement that he had re-signed with the 49ers and down below was the tweet he put out in regards to his return to San Francisco:
‘Unfinished (Finished) Business. If you doubt now keep the same energy and watch us prove you wrong.’ – Breida
It sounds like there’s a big chip on Breida’s shoulder and he’s looking to re-take his role as a primary running back along with helping the 49ers reach Super Bowl LV in Tampa, FL next year.
Andy Villamarzo can be reached at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @avillamarzo.
