The San Francisco 49ers made at least one big splash this offseason, trading for edge rusher Bryce Huff last month. The trade with the Philadelphia Eagles took place soon enough to allow Huff to take part in the team's mandatory minicamp. The 49ers needed another pass rusher, and Huff needed a new beginning.
In 2023, while with the New York Jets, Huff sacked the quarterback 10 times (in 17 games) and was one of the top defenders in the NFL in pressure rate. But last season, while with the Eagles, he managed only 2.5 sacks and played in only 12 games.
Huff dealt with some injuries in 2024, but his biggest issue was being in a scheme that did not match his skill set. But now that he's reunited with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Huff will be back in a scheme that better matches his abilities. And everyone in Santa Clara hopes it will be a match made in Heaven.
Last week, Huff joined Brad Graham on "The SFNiners" Podcast. They discussed several topics and even broke down some film. But perhaps the biggest takeaway is that Huff is excited to rejoin Saleh.
"Coach Saleh did a great job lining all that up for us in New York, and I saw a lot of guys elevate themselves throughout my three years with them," Huff told Graham. "So I'm extremely excited to be back here in San Fran. I know last year wasn't my best season at all in Philly, and I had a lot of stuff going down, but one thing led to another, and I got that call from my agent when the trade window opened up and I was on a plane to Santa Clara. So I'm extremely excited to be here.
"I've been here working with the same staff that took me from a basic player to like top of the league in pressure rate, top of the league in win rate, sacks, and whatnot. So I've been here putting in the same work that I put in all those years this summer, and I'm gonna be here until the first day of camp. So I'm excited to see how everything plays out this year with being back in Coach Saleh's scheme and being back with this performance staff."
Huff should be excited to be back with Saleh, in the same scheme he thrived in, and that he's been used to playing in for years. Last season in Philadelphia, he lined up differently than he has in his entire career leading up to 2024. His statistics and his impact on the game are proof of how much better of a player he was when he was in the right scheme.
"Yeah, I feel, it feels like, feels like home," Huff added. "Honestly, being able to put my hand in the dirt and utilize my full posterior chain to get off the ball every time, every snap, it gives me an advantage because that's like what I worked on my entire life. I've been playing D-line since I was four years old with my hand in the dirt. So I feel like that muscle, that mind muscle memories, that my muscle connection is just like, it's been solidified for over 15 years of just playing football. And that's how my body fires the best, honestly. That's really all it comes down to."
While he was with the Jets, Huff benefited from some excellent defensive coaches. And with San Francisco, he has an equally good staff working with him, starting with Defensive Line coach Kris Kocurek. But does Kocurek's intense style of coaching mesh with Huff?
"100% because Coach Kris was the D-line coach when Coach [Aaron] Whitecotton was there," Huff said. "And when he came in, because Whitecotton was my coach in New York, he had that same energy. He was a very—I've had coaches not in the league necessarily, but just throughout my life who like try to rah-rah the guys up, but don't really mean it. Like, Coach Kris means it, like with every fiber of his being, and I know I can feel it. I know when somebody means what they say. He means everything he says.
"And that, that got my respect from day one. I was like, 'yeah, I know what type of year it's about to be.' Like, when you're in a room with guys who are that passionate about the game and, like, love what they do, there's no way you cannot succeed with that type of person as your d-line coach. So huge, huge shout-out to Coach Kris. I'm extremely excited to get to work with him this season. Yeah, I'm extremely excited to get to work with him."
Huff is noticeably excited to be with the 49ers, and he's expecting a big season. Will this change of scenery be the fit that puts the 49ers and Huff over the top?
