San Francisco 49ers photographer marks 54 seasons behind the lens

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Michael Zagaris has spent greater than half a century documenting the San Francisco 49ers, a profession that started when he was an adolescent sneaking into Kezar Stadium with do-it-yourself credentials and grew into an official function embedded with the workforce.

Zagaris mentioned his entry began early.

“Here’s a picture I took at 11,” he recalled, pointing to a picture from his childhood.

Growing up close to the College of the Pacific, he mentioned, “This team sent 11 guys to the NFL.”

By highschool, he was already discovering methods onto the sphere.

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“I used to make my own credentials when I was in high school,” he mentioned. “I found one of these on the field. So I’d make my own every week.”

His break got here in 1979, when Bill Walsh took over as head coach. Zagaris approached him with a pitch.

“I said, coach, you know what I want to do? I want to cover this team as a photojournalist, and I want to cover it the way the presidency is covered by an official White House photographer.”

He advised Walsh he needed full entry: “I want to be on the team plane, on the team bus. I want to shoot pre-game, halftime, post game, on the bench, everything.”

Since then, Zagaris has photographed generations of 49ers legends.

He remembers capturing Joe Montana and Jerry Rice “after one of the many touchdowns,” and taking pictures Super Bowl moments.

Now 81, Zagaris is getting into his 54th season with the franchise.

“I used to run the streets with these guys,” he remembers.

Players at this time remind him of the years which have handed.

“As a couple people have told me, bro, you’re older than my grandfather,” Zagaris laughed.

Despite the a long time, the job nonetheless brings new experiences.

When requested, “Have you been to Australia before?” he answered, “Never been.”

And he has no plans to decelerate. “Baby, they’re going to have to tear that uniform off of me.”

He stays a relentless presence for followers who’ve adopted the workforce by 5 Super Bowl wins – and for Zagaris, he is ready for the sixth.

“You know what? You have to be ready,” he mentioned.

After 53 official seasons, Zagaris’ archive has change into a part of the workforce’s legacy.

“It’s rich San Francisco history,” he mentioned.

And after a long time documenting the 49ers, it is clear he is change into a part of that historical past too.