DeForest Buckner Trade Revisited: Kyle Shanahan Reflects on One of the 49ers' Toughest Decisions
SANTA CLARA - In the high-stakes world of NFL roster management, tough decisions are part of the job. But some moves linger longer than others - not because they were wrong, but because they were painful. For the 49ers, trading DeForest Buckner in March 2020 remains one of those decisions.
Buckner was more than just a dominant defensive tackle. He was a cornerstone of the locker room, a leader on and off the field, and a key part of the 49ers' Super Bowl run just weeks before the trade. Sending him to the Indianapolis Colts for a first-round pick wasn’t just a roster move - it was a seismic shift in the team’s identity.
Appearing on 49ers Game Plan, head coach Kyle Shanahan opened up about just how difficult that decision was.
“We’ve had some tough decisions since then,” Shanahan said, “but I would say that was the toughest, because it wasn't something that you had to do. But it was something that was the right thing, and it had nothing to do with DeForest. He was that good of a player and, gosh, I wish he was still here.”
That sentiment captures the complexity of the move. The 49ers didn’t trade Buckner because of performance issues - far from it.
Buckner had been a force in the middle of the defense and was just entering his prime. But with a big payday looming - one that would place him among the league’s highest-paid defenders - the 49ers faced a financial crossroads.
Buckner had played out his rookie deal, earning about $5.8 million over four seasons. He was due for a significant raise, and the 49ers had to weigh that against their broader roster priorities. In the end, they chose to move Buckner and use the cap flexibility to re-sign two other key defenders: Arik Armstead and Jimmie Ward.
That trade netted them the No. 13 overall pick in the 2020 draft - a valuable asset. They slid back one spot in a deal with Tampa Bay and used the No. 14 pick to select defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw.
Later in the first round, they added wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk at No. 25.
The logic was sound: one elite player out, two potential stars in, plus the ability to keep multiple veterans in-house. But that doesn’t mean it was easy - or that it doesn’t still sting.
“Having to trade Buck sucked so bad,” Shanahan admitted. “Getting a first-round pick, being able to sign a couple Pro Bowl players, too, because of it really balanced this out and allowed us to carry some things. But, man, I wish we didn't have to do that because Buck was that good of a player and an even-better human.”
Since the trade, Buckner has continued to thrive in Indianapolis, earning three Pro Bowl selections and anchoring the Colts’ defensive front. He’s set to face his former team for the second time since the deal. The last time he lined up against the Niners - in a rain-soaked 2021 matchup at Levi’s Stadium - he made his presence felt with a sack and six tackles in a 30-18 Colts win.
That game was a reminder of what Buckner still brings to the table - and what the 49ers gave up. But it also underscored the calculated nature of the move.
The 49ers weren’t tearing down; they were retooling. The decision was about sustaining a championship window, not closing it.
Still, in a league where numbers often drive decisions, Buckner was one of those rare players whose value went beyond the stat sheet. His leadership, his work ethic, his consistency - those are the intangibles that don't show up in a box score but resonate in a locker room.
The 49ers made a tough call. They did what they believed was best for the long-term health of the roster.
But even years later, it’s clear that letting go of DeForest Buckner was more than a football move - it was a personal one, too. And for Shanahan and the 49ers, it’s a decision that still carries emotional weight.