The San Francisco 49ers still have a few familiar names out there in free agency, but not all of them are likely to keep chasing another season. Some could land somewhere before long. Others may be staring at the end of the road if no team comes calling.
Jimmy Garoppolo is the biggest name in that group, and retirement chatter is already following him around. He’s spent the last few seasons as a backup with the Los Angeles Rams, and at this stage of his career he’s in his mid-30s and already made plenty of money.
A team would probably still be willing to use him in a backup role, but the Los Angeles Rams drafting Ty Simpson closed the door on a reunion there. If Garoppolo walks away, he’d leave behind a career that turned out pretty well, even if he never quite matched what the 49ers hoped for when they handed him that big contract.
Raheem Mostert is another former Niner who may be nearing the finish line. His name will always carry that huge 2020 NFC Championship game performance, but that was a long time ago.
Now 34, he’s coming off a season with just 104 rushing yards for the Las Vegas Raiders. At this point, it’s hard to picture him being more than a practice squad player, which makes retirement a real possibility.
Jimmie Ward’s situation is more complicated, but not encouraging. He was once a very solid safety for the 49ers, yet the last few seasons have taken him to the Houston Texans, along with troubling allegations. He also did not play all of 2025 because of injury, and that combination makes it tough to see a team taking a chance on him now.
Trent Taylor has been hanging around the 49ers orbit for years. Drafted by San Francisco in 2017, he left for a stretch before returning as a practice squad player.
He missed all of last season because of injury, though he remains close with a lot of the team’s stars. That connection could keep him in the building, but purely on merit, retirement would make sense since he hasn’t made an impact in the NFL for quite a while.
Eric Kendricks is the last name on the list, and he might be the toughest call of all. The 49ers were fortunate to get him last season when injuries hit their linebacker room, and he delivered, especially in the playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Still, he’s 34, and no team was willing to sign him last offseason. That leaves him in a spot where retirement may be the most likely outcome.
It’s never easy when careers start winding down, and each of these five players left a mark in a 49ers uniform. But eventually, every run in the league reaches its final chapter.
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John Lynch May Still Have One More 49ers Upgrade In Mind
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Among the names floated are a possible addition at safety and another option at running back, along with a more ambitious pass-rush swing that would be harder to pull off. For a team that has spent years trying to keep its window open, the interesting part is not whether Lynch will look, but how far he is willing to go to land one more upgrade before next season gets here. [Read more 🡒]