Former New York Giants RB Matt Breida - Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
With all the news surrounding the San Francisco 49ers, what may have gone unnoticed is that the team has signed a deal with running back Matt Breida. Breida is no stranger to the 49ers, playing with them from 2017-2019. Here is a look at Breida’s NFL career as a nine-year veteran, and why the 49ers may have made this deal.
Matt Breida’s NFL Career
The young running back is returning to where he began his NFL career, with the San Francisco 49ers. Breida signed as an undrafted free agent with the 49ers following the 2017 NFL Draft. He then played with the team from then until 2019, playing in the team’s first Super Bowl under Head Coach, Kyle Shanahan.
Following his time with the 49ers, Breida signed with the Miami Dolphins, where he spent one year. He then spent one season with the Buffalo Bills. The running back then spent two seasons with the New York Giants. Now, as a free agent, he is back to where he started with the 49ers.
Although he was overshadowed by Saquon Barkley for the past two years, Breida served as a solid backup player in New York. Barkley has dealt with injuries, and Breida stepped in. While the running back signing with the 49ers may not be a big flashy move, he still will serve a purpose with the 49ers.
In his seven years in the NFL, Breida rushed the ball for 2,652 yards and scored nine rushing touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference. He has also had 120 receptions for 935 yards and six receiving touchdowns. What has helped Breida as of late is his health. He may not be an NFL starter, but he can come in and help his team earn positive yards. He is a reliable player coming back to a team that he began with.
Matt Breida’s Time with the 49ers
Breida’s time with San Francisco was not long. He had a strong 2018 season, but in 2019, Raheem Mostert got the brunt of the snaps. This led the 49ers to move forward with Mostert instead of Breida. Though the 49ers were not the best in 2018, Breida’s speed helped the team win a couple of games, or at least keep them in a couple of games for a while.
With the 49ers, Breida coined the name “Breida the Cheetah” due to his speed. He was the fastest ball carrier in 2018. In his three years with San Francisco, Breida rushed the ball 381 times for 1,902 yards, scoring six rushing touchdowns. He also had 67 receptions for 561 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
San Francisco made an understandable choice moving on from Breida following the 2019 season, but he is still a player who knows the offense and can get another shot in the NFL this year.
Why the 49ers Signed a Running Back
Now the question is, why did the San Francisco 49ers just sign a running back? It is expected the three starting running backs will be Christian McCaffrey, of course, Elijah Mitchell, and Jordan Mason. The 49ers also used a draft pick on Isaac Guerendo. So what will Breida’s role be?
It truly may end up being that he is just a camp body who can get reps in the preseason. McCaffrey is not expected to play in the preseason games which leaves Mitchell, Mason, and Guerendo. As it just so happens, Guerendo has been dealing with a hamstring injury. He will likely not play too much in the preseason, though hopefully, he can prove that he was worth the draft pick at some point.
Mitchell is also a player that should be monitored. He is expected to make the 53-man roster, but his injuries have been an issue throughout his career. If he does get hurt before the season, Breida is a solid insurance policy for the team. He knows the system, and can still play well for the 49ers.
Since the signing, Breida has gone to social media to express his excitement that he is returning to San Francisco this year. The post can be found here, on Breida’s X account. Whether Breida makes the final roster or not, his presence is good for the team, even if it is just as a safety net.
