Herm Edwards got ‘Forks Up’ text from 49ers’ Lynch after Brandon Aiyuk TD
Oct 5, 2020, 9:54 AM | Updated: 12:14 pm
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, top, jumps over Philadelphia Eagles safety Marcus Epps (22) to score on a touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
(AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
The final NFL game on Sunday provided one of the top highlights of the season.
San Francisco 49er and former Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk turned back the clock to his college days, turning a small gain into something much more.
Former #ASU Sun Devil Brandon Aiyuk leaping his way to a TD. What a play. pic.twitter.com/7iTzEWcxWp
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) October 5, 2020
Catching a pass in the backfield, the wide receiver turned on the jets, shifting his way down the field before Olympic hurdling the final defender on his way to the 38-yard touchdown. The 49ers cut the Eagles’ first-quarter lead to just one point thanks to Aiyuk’s score.
But what wasn’t seen was the text conversation off the field soon after the rookie WR added to his highlight reel.
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No, it wasn’t another ASU coach or player reaching out. It was one of the only people sitting in the NFL stadium taking in the game live. Luckily, ASU head coach Herm Edwards joined Arizona Sports’ Doug & Wolf to fill us in on who was on the other end of the text exchange.
“You know, it’s kinda ironic because we’re sitting there, we’re at home, our family is watching the game obviously, and as soon as he scores the touchdown I get a text from [49ers GM] John Lynch,” Edwards said. “All it said was, ‘Forks Up.’ I said, ‘That’s pretty good.’ He’s up in the box obviously and I’m at home watching it. First thing he says as soon as he scores, ‘Forks Up.’ I texted him back and said, ‘Absolutely.'”
It’s not much of a surprise to ASU fans, given Aiyuk’s track record in Tempe, and Edwards and Lynch’s close relationship.
In his senior season with the Sun Devils, Aiyuk hauled in 65 catches for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns. Big plays are in his blood, as six of those eight scores were from more than 30 yards out. He averaged an impressive 18.3 yards per catch.
But even more stellar were his yards after the catch. The WR finished second in the FBS with 710 yards after the catch in the regular season. His 10.9 YAC per reception was the 12th-most nationally, making him an ideal fit alongside wide receiver Deebo Samuel in San Francisco’s offense.
It’s not everyday you get a text from an NFL GM.
But then again, Aiyuk’s last two weeks of touchdowns have turned heads. And just looking at the pair’s friendship, Edwards may be seeing those “Forks Up” texts light up his phone a whole lot more moving forward.
