The San Francisco 49ers turned to the waiver wire for help at linebacker and on special teams, claiming Garret Wallow from the Denver Broncos and placing offensive lineman Ben Bartch on injured reserve to make room on the 53-man roster. The team announced the move on December 8.
49ers Land Active Linebacker With Broncos Special Teams Pedigree
The 49ers added the 26-year-old Wallow after Denver waived him over the weekend. A 2021 fifth-round pick out of TCU, Wallow has appeared in more than 40 NFL games with the Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans and Broncos, carving out a niche as an energetic depth linebacker and core special teamer.
Denver leaned on Wallow heavily in the kicking game this season. He logged well over half of the Broncos’ special teams snaps in his appearances and was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster after maxing out his standard elevations. That workload mirrors his early-career role in Houston, where he played more than 50% of the special teams snaps in multiple seasons while also seeing more than 300 defensive snaps across 2021 and 2022.
The 49ers are banking on that experience translating quickly into their coverage units. With Bartch headed to IR and the back end of the roster in flux, San Francisco used the open spot on someone who can dress on game days and contribute right away in the third phase.
What Garret Wallow Brings to the 49ers
At 6-foot-2 and around 230 pounds, Wallow fits the modern off-ball linebacker profile: rangy, athletic and comfortable playing in space. He racked up more than 280 tackles in college at TCU and was known for his ability to fly sideline to sideline and finish plays in traffic.
In the NFL, Wallow’s biggest impact has come on special teams, but he’s flashed as a rotational defender when needed. His career numbers include more than 40 tackles, a sack, tackles for loss and a pass defensed, production that came mostly in sub-package and spot-duty work.
For the 49ers, that profile checks several boxes. San Francisco has leaned on its linebacker depth throughout the season, and the group has already undergone change over the last two years with former mainstay Dre Greenlaw now in Denver. Adding Wallow gives defensive coordinator Robert Saleh another experienced body who can handle backup duties at multiple spots while immediately helping on punt and kickoff units.
The move also fits the 49ers’ long-standing roster-building philosophy. They have consistently invested in high-effort, versatile linebackers and special-teams pieces to support stars at the top of the depth chart. Wallow, who just came off a stretch in Denver where he was described as a “big piece on special teams,” slots neatly into that mold.
How the Move Reshapes the 49ers’ Depth Chart
Placing Bartch on injured reserve is a blow to San Francisco’s offensive line depth, but the 49ers chose to use the open spot to address linebacker and special teams rather than simply swapping in another lineman. That choice underscores how much the team values stabilizing its coverage units and keeping the back seven fresh for a potential postseason push.
Wallow figures to slot in behind the established linebackers, competing for snaps with the current second wave of backups. Early on, his path to a helmet on Sundays will run through special teams meetings, where his Broncos tape shows him working on kick coverage, punt coverage and return units.
Stats, Schedule & Context for the 49ers
- Wallow has appeared in 40-plus NFL games with five career starts and one sack, with most of his snaps coming on special teams.
- The 49ers made the move on December 8, claiming Wallow off waivers from Denver and placing Bartch on IR.
- San Francisco sits at 9-4 and in third place in the NFC West heading into a Week 15 home matchup against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium on December 14, 2025.
If Wallow’s Broncos role is any indication, the 49ers just added an all-effort linebacker who can immediately juice their special teams, and possibly grow into a bigger defensive role as the season wears on.
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