The San Francisco 49ers have spent the majority of the offseason shedding talent, with their goal being to sign superstar quarterback Brock Purdy to a long-term extension. That goal was accomplished when Purdy put pen to paper on a five-year, $265 million contract, locking his future in with the team. One guy who the team did not move on from during this talent shed, though, was All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
There was a point in time when it seemed like Juszczyk was headed elsewhere, as the 49ers front office released him as part of their roster trimming. Instead, he opted to re-sign with San Fran on a two-year, $7.5 million contract, despite receiving interest from several other teams. When explaining that decision, Juszczyk provided an answer that will surely make 49ers fans happy.
Kyle Juszczyk Explains Surprising Free Agency Decision
Juszczyk is a rare breed in the NFL nowadays, as he is the cream of the crop at a fullback position that is not nearly as popular as it once was. After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, Juszczyk latched on with the 49ers, which is where he has spent the past eight seasons. During that time, he’s become a Swiss Army knife in Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
Juszczyk has been a Pro Bowler for nine straight years now, earning All-Pro First-Team honors in 2023 and All-Pro Second-Team honors in 2024. Last season, the former fourth-round pick caught 19 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 26 yards and another score. He’s also one of the best blockers out of the backfield in the league, making him a very important piece of the team’s offensive attack.
Still, with costs at an all-time high, San Francisco had to strongly consider moving on from him this offseason. Ultimately, the two sides were able to find common ground, which led to Juszczyk’s aforementioned deal. According to the man himself, he simply could not bring himself to leave the Niners, even though he took a free agent visit with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“At the end of the day, it just wasn’t enough to trump what I had in San Francisco. I just couldn’t pull the plug,” Juszczyk told Vic Tafur of The Athletic. “Even the day I was released, the door wasn’t shut. There was always an opportunity for me to come back. Kyle was very open about that.”
“We didn’t know how it was going to work out … though I told myself after a day or two that wasn’t going to happen. I think deep, deep down, that’s what I was hoping for, is that there would be an opportunity to come back.”
Kyle Juszczyk Looking to Help 49ers Bounce Back in 2025
GettySan Francisco 49ers’ fullback Kyle Juszczyk looks on during the first half of a preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers
Even though he doesn’t post gaudy numbers, Juszczyk’s return will help the 49ers’ offense in a big way moving forward. He’s a threat in the red zone to make a play when he gets the ball, and he’s more than capable of catching passes as a receiver. Beyond that, his ability to hold up as a blocker in both the run and pass game allows the offense to experiment with different formations to keep opposing defenses on their toes.
While San Francisco has lost some key pieces this offseason, they still have guys like Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk at their disposal, which should be more than enough for Purdy. Keeping Juszczyk around was a crucial move, though, and his presence should help the 49ers as they look to find their way back to the playoffs next season.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post 49ers All-Pro Drops Truth Bomb on Free Agency Decision — ‘Couldn’t Pull the Plug’ appeared first on Heavy Sports.