What drives 49ers RB coach Turner’s passion after 52 years in football originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
SANTA CLARA – Running backs coach Bobby Turner still feels an incredible passion for football, even after 52 years in the game, including the last seven with the 49ers.
This is exemplified by Turner’s infamous offseason efforts to delve into the background of each running back prospect during pre-draft discovery.
“It’s not an easy thing,” Turner told NBC Sports Bay Area. “I have to work on it and you have to love it. It’s like the love of the game. And it’s part of the job. I love what I do and I want to be the best at what I do.
“I have to be able to look at myself in the mirror, as I did the best I could during that entire evaluation process. The same thing in weekly preparation for games, regardless of the score. If I get better, I can make everyone around me better.”
At 75 years old, Turner is fully adept at not only calling but also texting players throughout the draft process. The longtime coach, who was even nicknamed “legend” of Christian McCaffreybelieves in the importance of maturity and dedication of the player who must accompany an exceptional game film.
The venerable Turner began coaching in 1972 at Kokomo High School before heading to his alma mater, Indiana State, where he began his 20-year college football coaching career. He was introduced to the NFL when he was hired as running backs coach for the Denver Broncos in 1995 under then-head coach Mike Shanahan.
For the next 29 seasons, Turner worked with members of the Shanahan family, including when Kyle joined his father’s coaching staff in 2010 in Washington. Turner followed Kyle to the Atlanta Falcons in 2015 and then to the Bay Area in 2017.
Since his NFL coaching debut, Turner has approached the pre-draft process with consistent diligence that includes frequent phone calls and now text messages. If a player is not timely in their responses, make sure Turner takes note.
“I started 52 years ago and, for me, [players] it doesn’t really cover it,” Turner said. “That doesn’t mean if you didn’t return those [calls]and he could play and help us win, that I wouldn’t feel the same way about him, but behind the scenes, the No. 1 that’s held accountable for these guys.
“And they usually don’t change. So when they’re not giving back this and not doing that, not only am I working harder, everyone around me is working harder to try to do this.”
Turner sees a player’s professionalism as an indication of how he will approach game preparation, which for all 49ers running backs includes knowing what all 11 offensive players are doing on the field at any given time. Turner’s track record proves his method is successful.
From Hall of Famer Terrell Davis to unelaborate jewelry like Raheem Mostert and Matt Brieda, and late-round draft pick Elijah Mitchell, Turner continues to make his mark in the NFL. Isaac Guerendo is the most recent player who has impressed Turner with his professionalism and play. Needless to say, the Louisville prospect answered the phone when the coach was calling.
“We want players like Isaac,” Turner said. “We want players like the ones we have here. When I say it’s the 49er way, that’s part of it.”
