Trent Taylor’s retirement has already taken one former 49er off the board, and he may not be the only one from San Francisco’s 2025 roster headed that way.
Taylor, drafted by the 49ers in 2017, had a solid rookie year but never fully matched the Wes Welker comparisons that followed him early in his career because of his smaller frame. He was technically still on the team last season, even though he spent the entire year on injured reserve.
Now the focus shifts to three other former 49ers who could wind up in the same place if the phone doesn’t ring.
Thomas Morstead is one of them. The veteran punter handled his business for San Francisco last season, especially when the offense started clicking late in the year and his opportunities dried up.
Even then, when he was called on, he did a dependable job of flipping the field and pinning opponents deep. The 49ers have already moved on, bringing in Corliss Waitman and Jack Bouwmeester to battle for the punter job this season.
Morstead is 40, has already said the upcoming season would be his last, and if no team gives him another shot, retirement could come sooner than he planned.
Eric Kendricks is in a similar spot, just for different reasons. He sat unsigned for most of last season before San Francisco’s injury problems at linebacker opened the door.
Once he got in, he played well and turned in a strong playoff performance against the Philadelphia Eagles. But he’s 34 now, and if this offseason turns into another stretch of limited interest beyond practice-squad type offers, he may decide it’s time to walk away.
Then there’s Yetur Gross-Matos, who is still only 28 but has been battling injuries for the last few seasons. He appeared in 11 games in 2024 with the Niners and played in eight games last season. With Bryce Huff having surprisingly retired after the season at 27 and Gross-Matos still unsigned, there’s at least a chance he could follow that same path and step away from football.
It’s never easy to see a player leave the game, especially after so many years in it. For these three former 49ers, retirement may be less of a choice than a reality they’re forced to confront.
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