New 49ers defensive back Jason Pinnock is excited for the upcoming season with his new team.
In an exclusive interview with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, Pinnock, who signed a one-year free-agent contract, explained his reasoning behind joining San Francisco in free agency, his familiarity with new 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and his approach entering the 2025 NFL season.
“I think it is just confirmation for me that winning is a culture,” Pinnock prefaced to Maiocco about his understanding of the 49ers. “It’s a culture. [I’m] blessed to be in one, and I’m soaking it all up.”
Pinnock appears excited to be in San Francisco after spending his first four seasons in New York with the Jets (2021) and Giants (2022-24).
But besides an opportunity to win, reuniting with the coach who selected him No. 175 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft – Robert Saleh, formerly coach of the Jets – was quite enticing.
“I wanted to go somewhere comfortable, man,” Pinnock told Maiocco. “I’m comfortable in this system. I switched positions rookie year, and I’ve seen three different coordinators since then. I just wanted some continuity. [I have a] great relationship with Saleh – knew his system, loved his system, and I wanted to get back.”
Pinnock played corner in college at Pitt but switched to safety under Saleh. And over the past two seasons, Pinnock started at safety for the Giants and collected 211 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two interceptions, proving Saleh’s tweak was wise.
The defensive back didn’t reach this point without any bumps, though. In August 2022, Saleh and the Jets cut Pinnock, which left him to join the Giants. Pinnock admirably reflects fondly on the experience and embraces the cards he has been dealt.
“It was humbling,” Pinnock told Maiocco about being released. “It was humbling, but my pops is big on ‘It’s a blessing in disguise.’ I don’t think I would’ve fell into a system like with [ex-Giants defensive coordinator] Don “Wink” Martindale, where I figured out like, ‘Wow, I can blitz.’ That introduced that portion into my game.
“And then finding [current Giants defensive coordinator] Shane Bowen, knowing, ‘OK, I can diagnose and see coverages and be able to observe.’ It was a blessing in disguise, but it was tough, man.”
Pinnock made strides with the Giants. And because of them, he now has the chance to prove his worth and belonging as a key defensive back with the 49ers.
He explained to Maiocco what he aims to do during the coming season.
“Getting the ball,” Pinnock told Maioco. “I think I’ve shown I can pressure, I can tackle, good in space; I got to go show these attributes in my ball skills – you know, something that got me drafted, basically. Show people I’m a ball-hawk.”
And don’t get it twisted – Pinnock wants to start.
“I don’t think anybody in this league does,” Pinnock concluded to Maiocco. “Hopefully, I’m a Day 1 starter. I think that’s what everybody hopes to do; that’s what I hope to do. But not only that, I look at myself as an All-Pro-type of guy. That’s what I came here to do. That’s what I came to show the league.”
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