The San Francisco 49ers proved all the way up to their NFC championship game loss to Seattle they were one of the league’s top teams.
Sunday’s Pro Bowl already is without the two teams representing the AFC and NFC in the Super Bowl and nearly was left without anybody representing one of Hawaii’s adopted "home" teams.
That changed when rookie safety Eric Reid received a phone call Monday night inviting him to compete in Sunday’s Pro Bowl as a replacement for the Seahawks’ Kam Chancellor.
Barely removed from a brutally heartbreaking 23-17 loss to Seattle, Reid initially thought about declining the request before changing his mind and making the journey to Hawaii for the first time.
"I was presented with the opportunity and am very blessed to be healthy, so I decided to come," said Reid, a first-round draft pick of the 49ers in 2013 out of LSU. "I wasn’t sure, to be honest, if I was going to come because it was a hard pill to swallow to lose that game, but when they gave me the call, it was a heck of an opportunity and I had to say ‘yeah.’ "
Reid was called around 11 p.m. Monday and was on a flight to Hawaii by 2 the next afternoon.
The ride was somewhat lonely, as the other eight 49ers selected to the game all bowed out due to various reasons.
Sunday’s NFC title game hurt as much physically as emotionally as the Niners lost Pro Bowl linebacker NaVorro Bowman to ACL and possible MCL tears. Running back Frank Gore broke his right finger and guard Mike Iupati suffered a fractured leg against the Seahawks.
"I know a lot of the guys are banged up and I think they made a good decision by deciding not to come," Reid said. "The most important thing is for them to get healthy and get ready for next year."
Once he landed on Oahu, Reid was immediately taken aback by the number of people who came up to him for pictures and autographs.
It didn’t take long to realize the presence the 49ers have in Hawaii among local fans.
"I didn’t know that and I didn’t think I’d get recognized, but a lot of guys have walked up to me and knew me and I’m like, ‘Man, I don’t think I’m famous or anything,’ " Reid said. "I’m glad to be here representing for them."
Reid represented on the field this season, starting all 16 games after replacing departed free agent Dashon Goldson.
He finished the year with 77 tackles and four interceptions and filled a key hole for the Niners’ defense to help them remain one of the stingiest units in the league.
"I’ve worked my entire life to get here basically," Reid said. "I’ve had a great group of guys surrounding me and encouraging me to do what I’ve done this year and I guess you could definitely say this is a wonderful moment to (cap) a great year."
The dream began all the way back in middle school, when Reid signed up for his first email account.
His address was nflbound@aol.com.
"This is truly, truly a dream come true," Reid said. "This is all I’ve ever wanted to do and to be here as a rookie getting picked by Jerry (Rice), I had the opportunity to meet him back at Candlestick (Park), it’s just, I had to come, I had to do this."
