Dominick Puni doesn’t sound like a player who takes Trent Williams for granted. That’s hard to do in San Francisco, where Williams remains the oldest player on the roster and, at 38, still plays like one of the league’s premier left tackles.
Williams just signed a contract extension that runs through the 2027 season, and his career arc is the kind of thing that stops younger teammates in their tracks. He entered the NFL in 2010 and is heading into his 17th season in 2026, a stretch of longevity that stands out even more because he’s done it at an elite level on the offensive line, where the wear and tear usually hits fast.
For Puni, the first reaction after getting drafted was simple: he wanted to watch how Williams does it.
"I remember when I got drafted, I think one of the first things I thought was, 'Man, I get to be in the same room as Trent Williams and just kind of see how he operates in the room and what's his key to longevity?'" Puni said on 95.7 The Game.
What followed was even more wide-eyed.
"Honestly, he's just - I would say he's like not a real person, he's just kind of like a... I don't even know, like a mythical character.
"He's in year what, 16, 15? I don't even know, because guys will tell me they're in Year 10 and I'm like, 'Wow, that's a long time.
"And then here comes Trent, who's still playing at an All-Pro level, like 15, 16 years in. So, I mean, it is unbelievable. And the advice he gives every day is just awesome, so it's great to learn from him."
Williams’ standing is easy to understand. A player with 16 years behind him, soon to be 17, and still operating at that level is rare enough to draw Hall of Fame talk when his career is done.
The bigger picture, though, is that San Francisco hasn’t always leaned into that advantage the way it could have. With the offensive line still one of the softer spots on the roster, Williams’ experience should matter even more. There’s also the reality that he appears likely to finish his career after next season, which only sharpens the value of every day he spends around younger linemen.
Puni is one of the players getting that benefit now. As he heads into his third season, the hope is that the lessons from Williams keep showing up in his own game.
In Other News...
49ers Injury Problems Could Get Even Worse In The NFC West
The 49ers are already trying to navigate a stretch in which injuries have piled up and the NFC West is shaping up as a rugged race, so any added pressure in the division carries real weight. San Francisco knows the margins here are thin, and with strong competition around the division, every week of roster health and stability matters as it tries to stay on track before the season begins.
Now there is at least the possibility of another familiar problem for the 49ers: Aaron Donald potentially returning to the Rams. The longtime Los Angeles star has been linked to a workout with the Rams, and his status is being watched closely because a comeback would immediately raise the stakes for San Franciscos path through the division, especially with Week 1 looming and the 49ers already trying to keep pace amid their own injury issues. [Read more 🡒]
Dre Greenlaw Opens Up About What Went Wrong In Denver
Dre Greenlaw is back with the 49ers after a lone season in Denver that never really got off the ground, and the linebacker has been open about how rocky it was. Greenlaw spent the year battling injuries and trying to find his footing in a new defense, a stretch that cut into his playing time and kept him from building any real momentum with the Broncos.
He ended up back on the market after the season, then re-signed with San Francisco, where the fit is familiar and the expectations are clear. For the 49ers, the bigger question now is whether Greenlaw can put the frustration behind him and settle back into the role that made him such a key part of their defense before Denver interrupted the story. [Read more 🡒]
Raheem Morris Is Already Reshaping How The 49ers Defense Will Attack
Raheem Morris is only getting started in San Francisco, but the 49ers defense is already speaking a slightly different language. The new coordinator has brought in fresh terminology and new role names, including fever backer and spinner, part of an effort to make the front more flexible and harder to pin down from snap to snap.
What Morris wants from those spots is clear: players who can rush the passer, cover in space and set the edge without telegraphing the plan. Names like Nick Martin, Jaden Dugger, Larry Worth and Romello Height have been mentioned as fits for those duties, and the approach sounds familiar to what other teams such as the Seahawks and Falcons have used. For San Francisco, the bigger question is how quickly all of this turns into something the defense can lean on once the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]