Add The California Post on Google San Francisco 49ers wide receivers coach Leonard Hankerson has officially joined the internet pile-on surrounding Daejon Love.
Hankerson took to Instagram on Sunday with a joke aimed at Love, the 35-year-old accused by federal prosecutors of posing as a 49ers player while carrying out an alleged romance and investment fraud scheme.
The post included an altered image appearing to show Hankerson on the practice field coaching Love, complete with 49ers gear and a red practice jersey. Hankerson added no lengthy explanation. He did not need one.
Former 49ers receiver Kendrick Bourne immediately played along in the comments.
“Man I knew you was coaching him 😂😂,” Bourne wrote.
“Man I hate we lost him…. He was balling!!! 😂,” the coach replied.
The exchange quickly spread across social media, where fans have spent much of the weekend inventing a fictional 49ers career for Love and roasting the increasingly bizarre details surrounding the federal case.
Love and alleged accomplice Taylor Chan were arrested at Boise Airport on Aug. 24 and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Federal prosecutors allege Love presented himself to women he met online as either a 49ers player or wealthy real estate investor, while Chan allegedly posed as his financial adviser.
Authorities say at least 26 identified victims sent the pair roughly $1.3 million. The FBI believes there could be additional victims.
Since the charges became public, videos and social media posts tied to Love’s alleged football persona have only added to the spectacle. One clip reportedly showed him staging his own 49ers “signing day,” while another showed Love pointing to a Google AI result that incorrectly identified him as a San Francisco wide receiver.
That has provided nearly endless material for 49ers fans, who have joked about Love’s nonexistent statistics, injury history and place on the depth chart.
Now even an actual member of the 49ers coaching staff is getting in on it.
Judging by Hankerson’s review, San Francisco apparently lost one heck of a player shortly before an important Week 1 opener.
