In a league where excitement and energy are vital, the San Francisco 49ers have found a unique way to amp up their team before every game. Since 2017, the 49ers have been led onto the field by a team staffer holding a booming sound system that blasts their favorite tunes. This tradition began when Nick Kray, the 49ers' former chief of staff, noticed a lack of energy as the team headed into the tunnel before a game. Determined to inject some life into the pregame atmosphere, Kray bought the loudest Bluetooth speaker he could find and played Crime Mob's 'Knuck If You Buck' as they took the field. The response was electric, with left tackle Joe Staley leading the charge with his energetic dance moves.
Impressed by the initial success, Staley recommended that the team invest in a louder sound system so that the entire team could get into the groove. Kray reached out to Bumpboxx, a company specializing in retro Bluetooth stereos, and they customized home and road versions for the 49ers. From that moment on, Kray would hoist the 30-pound, three-feet-long boombox on his shoulder, creating a unique party-like atmosphere for the team's entrance.
The impact of these musical entrances has been undeniable. The 49ers have carried this tradition into every game, including Super Bowl LIV. Currently, their go-to song is YoungBoy Never Broke Again's 'Green Dot,' but the team's de facto disc jockeys, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and offensive tackle Trent Williams, have the final say in the playlist. The team feeds off the energy, and it helps set the tone for the game ahead.
Kray's innovative idea quickly caught the attention of other teams and programs. It has even spread to college basketball, with the North Carolina Tar Heels adopting the boombox tradition. Harrison Ingram, a forward for the Tar Heels, brought the idea from his time at Stanford, just a short distance away from Levi's Stadium. Now, the team walks out to the gameday floor with their customized Carolina blue Bumpboxx, bringing an extra level of excitement and unity to their pregame routine.
Although Kray has moved on from the 49ers and the NFL, his legacy lives on. He founded his own company called Kray Mode, which connects athletes with brands, facilitating collaboration and endorsement deals. His innovative boombox tradition has become a phenomenon, igniting energy in various teams and programs.
While Kray may have passed the torch to Robert Lloyd, the assistant equipment manager, who now leads the 49ers onto the field with the stereo, the team's spirit remains intact. The Bumpboxx continues to create a buzz among the players and fans, pumping up the whole team before each game. As 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw puts it, 'Anytime you've got the Bumpboxx going, the whole team's pretty pumped.'
From a simple desire to infuse some energy into the pregame atmosphere, Kray's boombox tradition has become an enduring symbol of camaraderie and excitement for the San Francisco 49ers. It exemplifies the power of music to unite and invigorate a team, setting a positive tone before the battle on the field begins.
