The San Francisco 49ers are unexpectedly parting ways with one of their former All-Pro talents before holding their first practice of 2025 NFL training camp.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the 49ers released veteran safety and special-teams ace George Odum on Saturday in a “surprising” move that came just one day after the team placed him on the active/non-football injury (NFI) list.
The 49ers have also officially announced Odum’s release.
“#49ers special teams standout George Odum, a surprising release earlier today, underwent elbow surgery last month from an offseason injury, source said,” Rapoport wrote Saturday on X. “He was placed on NFI. Given a 3-month recovery time, he should be ready 6-8 weeks from now. Likely to sign midseason.”
Odum played in 40 games for the 49ers over the past three seasons, starting two games for their defense in 2024 and breaking up a career-high four passes. He was a particular standout on special teams, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2022 after tallying a NFL-high 21 special-teams tackles. In three years, he had 36 total special-teams tackles.
The 49ers’ veterans will report for camp on Tuesday, one day before their first practice.
George Odum’s Release Weakens 49ers’ Safety Room
Given Rapoport’s details about Odum’s injury, the 49ers didn’t have much of a decision to make with Odum. They could have carried him through camp and onto their 53-man roster and then placed him on an injury list that would have allowed him to return once he is healthy, but they have other safeties and special teamers hungry to vie for his reps.
Do the 49ers have enough talent at safety to feel secure, though?
The 49ers return starting safeties Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha in 2025, but the team has already placed Mustapha on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list to begin camp as he continues his recovery from last year’s Week 17 ACL injury.
While it is unclear yet if Mustapha will miss time early in the regular season, the 49ers will need to find a suitable replacement starter for him — even if only as a precaution.
The 49ers did sign veterans Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant to one-year contracts in free agency, but they also allowed former All-Pro Talanoa Hufanga to walk, effectively swapping out a dependable piece for two experienced-but-unproven veterans instead. That’s not much of a problem if either Pinnock or Grant shows out in camp, but it is a shakier picture without Odum in the mix as a familiar presence to push them.
Could 49ers Re-Sign George Odum When He’s Healthy?
The 49ers will have roughly the next month to determine whether they are deep enough at safety for the 2025 season. They also added players in free agency and the draft that should give them options for replacing the special-teams value lost in Odum’s release.
Should the 49ers still need help at safety once Odum has recovered, though, it is not out of the question to think they could explore re-signing him during the regular season.
To be clear, the 49ers will need to find solutions at safety before then. They might even wnat to dig back into free agency — or, perhaps, explore the trade market — before the end of camp if Mustapha’s outlook becomes murkier or their new additions disappoint. But many things, good and bad, can happen between now and Odum’s projected return, and if the 49ers’ plan falters because of more injuries or other issues, he still has value.
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