Happy Training Camp Week, 49ers fans. We are just three days away from the start of training camp, scheduled to begin Thursday, July 26, marking the beginning of a six-month-plus marathon that spans the NFL season. KNBR has counted down the days by highlighting San Francisco’s most important players, from No. 14 to No. 1, accompanied by coach bios for each day preceding camp.
Let’s highlight left tackle Joe Staley, our third-most important 49ers player in the upcoming season.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Joe Staley
The only constant throughout a decade’s worth of volatility among the 49ers is Staley. His 11-year career has featured one Super Bowl appearance, a two-win season, six head coaches, and a stadium relocation. The 49ers’ left tackle is longer tenured than their CEO.
Staley has played, and started, in 158 career games. Since the 49ers selected him in the first round of the 2007 draft, he has missed just 18 contests. He was named to six of the past seven Pro Bowls, including last season. Just seven players in 49ers history have been named to more.
Perhaps most impressive, Staley has adapted to very different offensive schemes, from Jim Harbaugh’s pro-style offense, to Chip Kelly’s patented spread, and currently Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone. Those offenses require different types of linemen to work. Staley has transitioned to each seamlessly.
But even the 49ers backbone showed signs of cracking amid an 0-9 start to the 2017 season. Last year, he told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco he was considering retirement because he lacked enthusiasm. Then the 5-0 finish happened, and Staley finished strong. The 49ers restructured his deal this offseason, boosting his yearly salary in both 2018 and 2019 by $3.25 million. That evidenced Staley’s unmistakable importance to the 49ers.
Their top offseason priority was securing Jimmy Garoppolo, which they did to a five-year, $137.5 million contract. The next priority was protecting him. No 49ers lineman is more valuable than Staley, responsible for protecting Garoppolo’s blindside.
There haven’t been many better at it. He allowed just 24 total pressures last year. He was Pro Football Focus’ third-highest graded run blocker at tackle in 2017 and its No. 2 overall left tackle.
What is less quantifiable is Staley’s locker room presence. He recently brought back the Joe Show, where his goofy personality shines as he interviews teammates across the locker room. He has taken it upon himself to mentor first-round pick Mike McGlinchey, the projected starting right tackle. A bromance is in full effect.
Staley headlines an offensive line that looks different from a year ago, with McGlinchey and center Weston Richburg as newly acquired starters. This is nothing new. Thirteen players remain from the 2016 team that went 2-14.
Staley is still here and humming.
COACH SPOTLIGHT: Jon Embree, assistant head coach/tight ends
Embree enters his second season as San Francisco’s assistant head coach and tight ends coach. He brings 28 years of coaching experience at all three levels and in various roles.
He worked with Garrett Celek and rookie George Kittle in Embree’s first year with the 49ers. The tight end duo combined for 851 yards and six touchdowns on the year. They were an integral part of the offense during a 6-1 finish to the 2017 season. Celek recorded at least 63 yards three times throughout that span. Kittle, who recorded a catch in all 15 games played, capped his debut NFL season with a four-catch, 100-yard performance in Week 17.
Embree spent the first 15 years of his coaching career at the high school and college levels. He held four different coaching roles at the University of Colorado, his alma mater. From 2006 to 2008, he coached the Kansas City Chiefs tight ends, helping Tony Gonzalez achieve the most productive three-year stretch of his career. In 2010, Embree accepted the same job with the Washington Redskins, where he first worked with Shanahan.
Nearly 10 years after he left the college game, Embree was named the Colorado head coach prior to the 2011 season. His stint lasted just two years, however, and yielded a 4-21 record.
Embree subsequently returned to the NFL to coach the Cleveland Browns tight ends. In his lone year there, Jordan Cameron morphed from rotational contributor to Pro Bowler, compiling 80 catches, 917 yards, and seven touchdowns in a career-best season. Embree moved on to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight ends from 2014 to 2016. In his final year with Tampa Bay, Cameron Brate caught eight touchdowns, tied for the NFL lead among tight ends.
This story is part of a two-week training camp countdown highlighting 49ers coaches and ranking their most important players from No. 14 to No. 1. Check out the rankings below.