2026 could wind up being a pivotal year for second-year safety Marques Sigle, who entered the league as a fifth-round choice of the San Francisco 49ers out of Kansas State back in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Despite seeing a diminished role as his rookie year dragged on, the Niners made awfully few attempts to bolster the depth chart at his position thus far into the offseason. And with limited assets in the 2026 draft, Sigle could be in line to take over a prominent role in year two.
But, it certainly helps going back to where his pro career all started.
Recently, the defensive back shared a personal story about the moment he was drafted by San Francisco on day three.
And it made one member of his family extremely happy.
Marques Sigle shares his dad's joy after being drafted by 49ers
In a personal share by Sigle on Instagram, the safety acknowledged that his father was the happiest kind of happy when the 49ers called his son's number on day three of the draft.
"My dad has been a 49ers fan as long as I've known," Sigle said in the post. "So, I could always follow back on his team when I was growing up and say, 'that's my dad's team.' To be a part of that organization is huge for me and my family."
Sigle appeared in 15 games his rookie season, starting seven of them but gradually giving way to an older veteran, now-New York Giants safety Jason Pinnock, as the year went on. But, the arrival of defensive coordinator Raheem Morris could mean Sigle is ticketed for a larger role now that he has a better command of the pro level.
"Just seeing my dad get so excited, hearing 'oh, that's my 49ers.' I can say, 'a 49ers fan.' That was just huge to hear that," Sigle continued. "Just to show how proud he is and to see that for my life, it was just huge."
While fans get caught up in draft-day overreaches, sleepers, good picks and bad, it's often easy to forget the excitement young players feel when their names are finally called.
Especially when called to a parent's favorite team.