Headlines

San Francisco 49ers News & Rumors

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/14/26

By | at January 14, 2026 8:24 pm

More teams signed players to reserve/futures deals on Wednesday:

Arizona Cardinals

Los Angeles Chargers

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

0 comments Arizona Cardinals Los Angeles Chargers New Orleans Saints Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Transactions

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/14/26

By | at January 14, 2026 7:13 pm

Here’s are Wednesday’s practice squad transactions:

Houston Texans

New England Patriots

San Francisco 49ers

The Patriots added an experienced pass rusher to their taxi squad today. Taylor, a second-round pick for the Seahawks in 2020, racked up 21.5 sacks in his first three seasons of NFL ball, but he didn’t see the same success in his fourth year after getting traded to the Bears. Injuries would limit him in Chicago and Houston, where he signed following the expiration of his rookie deal, as he only appeared in four games with the Texans this season. He now arrives in New England as Mike Vrabel and Co. are making a strong playoff push after a surprising one-year turnaround.

0 comments Houston Texans New England Patriots San Francisco 49ers Transactions

49ers’ George Kittle Suffers Torn Achilles

By | at January 11, 2026 11:05 pm

Late in the first half of the 49ers wild-card matchup with the Eagles, tight end George Kittle went down with a non-contact injury and was carted off the field. Instant replays of the injury made speculation all but certain, and the team confirmed shortly after, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, that Kittle had officially torn his Achilles tendon.

Kittle’s 2025 campaign was already a difficult one as he dealt with multiple injuries, and as it comes to an early end, that end threatens to ruin his 2026 season, as well. Coming fresh off a four-year, $76.4MM offseason extension, Kittle hit the ground running in the team’s season opener, quickly scoring San Francisco’s first touchdown of the year. In the third quarter of the game, though, Kittle left with a hamstring injury and would miss the next five games on injured reserve with hamstring injury.

Upon being activated from IR in Week 7, Kittle quickly returned to form, really catching fire from Week 10 on. His momentum hit a slight speed bump when an ankle injury disrupted a dominant performance in Indianapolis and forced him to sit out the 49ers penultimate game of the regular season. He was able to return for a Week 18 home loss to the Seahawks and looked primed to help his offense into the postseason.

Despite all the hardship he’s worked through this year, today’s soft tissue injury is the worst news he could’ve heard all season. Not only because Achilles tendon tears can take between nine months and a full year to recover, but also because the injury has come at nearly the latest possible point of the season.

Now, there are exceptions to the rule. There’s the famous Aaron Rodgers example, in which the former Jets quarterback attempted to return from the same injury after only three months. He was successfully activated from IR within the 18 weeks of the regular season, but New York held him out and did not let him return to the field that year. More recently, the Ravens saw safety Ar’Darius Washington tear his Achilles tendon in May. He, too, set his sights on a late-season return and was activated from IR seven months later.

If Kittle can replicate Washington’s recovery timeline, there’s a chance he may be able to return sometime during training camp and be available for the season opener. Otherwise, Kittle is likely to open the 2026 NFL season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and could miss the first month or so of next year. At the moment, though, it’s disappointment for San Francisco, whose 2025 campaign is not yet over. Injuries have defined this season for the 49ers, and Kittle’s torn Achilles is just the latest on the list for this resilient team.

31 comments Newsstand San Francisco 49ers

49ers LT Trent Williams Intends To Play In WC Round

By | at January 10, 2026 10:11 pm

Trent Williams suffered a hamstring injury early in Week 17, beginning a tenuous recovery process. The 49ers’ left tackle plans on suiting up tomorrow, but his status is still uncertain.

Williams sat out San Francisco’s regular-season finale. That came as little surprise and allowed for additional time to rest. Nevertheless, the 37-year-old is forcing the issue with respect to his recovery timeline by attempting to play in the wild-card round. Williams in unsure at this point if he will be able to finish Sunday’s contest.

“It’s always going to be a little bit — a little bit of a concern,” the 12-time Pro Bowler admitted (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). “I mean, obviously I’m kind of pushing the limits on the time that’s required for it. So it will probably be in the back of my mind for a little bit. But once you get out there and the juices get flowing and adrenaline, I don’t think it should be a big problem.”

Williams’ status will of course be a main talking point leading up to the 49ers’ game against the Eagles. He is among the players listed as questionable going into Sunday. Losing Williams for some or all of the game would of course deal a notable blow to San Francisco’ O-line, a unit which has depended in large part on his availability and performances over the years.

After not practicing at all last week, Williams sat out Wednesday’s session. The 15-year veteran managed to practice on a limited basis for each of the next two days, however. He and the team will hope that proves sufficient for a full outing against Philadelphia’s defense tomorrow. If that does not prove to be the case, Austen Pleasants will be tasked with handling blindside duties.

0 comments San Francisco 49ers

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/10/26

By | at January 10, 2026 7:37 pm

Here are Saturday’s moves around the NFL as the first day of wild-card weekend continues:

Buffalo Bills

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Sanders was limited to four games last season due to an Achilles tear. The 25-year-old then suffered a foot injury in training camp which kept him sidelined for the entire regular season in 2025. As Mike Klis of 9News notes, Sanders will not be available in the divisional round but a return deeper into the postseason will be at least a faint possibility with him now on the practice field.

3 comments Buffalo Bills Denver Broncos Green Bay Packers Jacksonville Jaguars Los Angeles Chargers New England Patriots Philadelphia Eagles San Francisco 49ers Transactions

Dolphins To Interview Klint Kubiak, Request Interview With Robert Saleh

By | at January 10, 2026 12:33 pm

Klint Kubiak is officially the most popular head coaching candidate in this year’s hiring cycle.

Six team have now requested an interview with the Seahawks offensive coordinator, the most of any candidate thus far. The latest is from the Dolphins, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, and Kubiak is set to interview with them today.

The Dolphins join the Cardinals, Falcons, Ravens, Raiders, and Titans in expressing interest in the 38-year-old. Other coaches from teams in the wild card round as well as John Harbaugh could catch up with their interviews for next week, but for right now, Kubiak is the hottest name on the market.

It is easy to see why. He came up under his father and longtime offensive guru Gary Kubiak in Denver and in Minnesota; the latter spot also included time with Mike Zimmer until 2021. After returning to Denver for one season, Klint Kubiak was hired by Kyle Shanahan to be the 49ers pass game coordinator in 2023. Like others in that position before him, he quickly earned an offensive coordinator gig. San Francisco finished with fourth-most passing yards in the league in Kubiak’s debut year, even more impressive considering they also had the fewest passing attempts.

The Saints then hired Kubiak as their offensive coordinator in 2024, but after an exciting start, the unit faded down the stretch. When New Orleans brought in Kellen Moore last offseason, Kubiak departed for Seattle to work under Mike Macdonald. He immediately molded the Seahawks’ offense into one of the best in the league. Among his success were quarterback Sam Darnold, who answered questions about his ability to match his 2024 performances; wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the league in receiving; and running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, who were one of the league’s best one-two combos.

The Dolphins have gone with offensive coaches for five of their six head coaching hires dating back to 2006, but they could also be looking for a stronger culture-setter as they head for at least a semi-rebuild. Another coach with connections to Shanahan – 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh – could fit that bill. The Dolphins requested an interview with Saleh, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, though that cannot take place until next week.

Saleh’s success as a defensive coordinator is undeniable. Four years in San Francisco got him hired in New York, but his tenure as the Jets head coach did not go according to plan. The team went 20-36, though it is hard to argue that Saleh was their biggest problem. Owner Woody Johnson, general manager Joe Douglas, and quarterback Zach Wilson were just as reponsible, if not more so, for the Jets’ struggles in that time. If the Dolphins share that perception, they may be more willing to give Saleh a second chance in the top job.

4 comments Miami Dolphins San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks

Titans Request HC Interviews With Arthur Smith, Jeff Hafley, Robert Saleh

By | at January 8, 2026 1:22 pm

The Titan have submitted requests to interview Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and 49ers DC Robert Saleh, per Titans inside Paul Kuharsky.

Smith, 43, spent most of his coaching career in Tennessee. He started as a quality control assistant in 2011 with a season on both sides of the ball before spending six years working with the Titans’ tight ends. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019 and took a bottom 10 offense to top-12 ranks in points and yards in his debut season. Smith then led a top-five unit in 2020, which got him hired as the Falcons’ head coach the following offseason. He went 7-10 in three straight season in Atlanta and was fired in 2024. Mike Tomlin picked him up as the Steelers’ OC, but Smith has not found the same success as his time in Tennesee. Pittsburgh’s offense has ranked among the NFL’s bottom 10 teams in points and finished in the middle of the pack in terms of yardage.

Hiring Smith does not have obvious appeal outside of a reunion with a former coach. He does not have a strong history of working with young quarterbacks, a key part of the Titans’ current search, and his success has primarily come in the run game. Cam Ward has good movement skills, but he was not a dual-threat quarterback at Miami and will not be one in the NFL. His connections with Tomlin and Mike Vrabel could help him land a solid defensive coordinator.

Hafley, 46, has quickly risen up the list of hot coaching candidates after two successful years in Green Bay. His coaching career began in college in 2021 with stints at a variety of schools before moving to the NFL in 2012. He coached defensive backs in Tampa Bay (2012-2013), Cleveland (2014-2015), and San Francisco (2016-2018) before accepting a co-DC gig at Ohio State. Boston College hired Hafely as their next head coach in 2020; four years later, he took his current position with the Packers. In his debut year in Green Bay, Hafley led the team to a top-six finish in points and yards before taking a step back to a top-12 ranking this season.

Hiring a defensive-minded head coach to lock down one side of the ball while searching for a young OC to work with Ward seems like a viable strategy for the Titans, especially given this year’s hiring cycle. There are far more potential head coaches on the defensive side of the ball with a number of young offensive assistants who may be ready for an OC job.

Saleh is of course among the top options with a defensive background. He, like Smith, also has experience as a head coach at the NFL level. The 46-year-old returned to San Francisco for 2025, the first season after his Jets firing. Saleh’s unit dealt with a slew of notable injuries but still managed to finish 13th in points allowed. It thus comes as little surprise he is among the most in-demand staffers so far in the 2026 hiring cycle.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

11 comments Green Bay Packers Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Tennessee Titans

Falcons Request Robert Saleh HC Interview; Team To Speak With Mike Disner For Football Operations Role

By | at January 8, 2026 12:12 pm

The Falcons have a vacancy at the head coach and general manager positions. Atlanta will also soon have a new president of football operations.

A hire for the football ops role will take place before the other positions are filled. Matt Ryan remains the favorite in that capacity, but other options are (as required) being explored as well. Interviews will take place beginning today. Ian Cunningham (Bears) has received an interview request. The same is also true of Josh Williams (49ers), while Brandt Tilis (Panthers) will speak with Atlanta about the gig.

A fifth candidate has emerged for the new front office spot. Lions COO Mike Disner will interview today for the president of football operations gig, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. Cunningham’s interview will take place tomorrow, he adds. All five will have spoken with Atlanta by the end of Friday; a hire will be expected shortly thereafter.

Disner began working in the NFL with the Cardinals in 2013. His six-year run in Arizona was followed by a move to Detroit. Disner has been with the Lions since 2019, previously serving as the team’s senior vice president of football and business operations. Since 2022, he has worked in his current capacity. Disner was connected to the Panthers’ GM opening in 2024 but withdrew from consideration.

As for Atlanta’s head coaching search, another interview request has been filed. According to Breer, the Falcons are among the teams looking to speak with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. An interview cannot take place until next week in his case, but Saleh figures to be busy fielding interest from a number of teams. He has already received an interview request from the Cardinals, and more are expected over the coming days.

Saleh, 46, gained steam as a head coaching candidate during his first stint leading San Francisco’s defense (2017-20). Things did not go as planned with the Jets, but Saleh is among the top options in terms of coaches who could land a second HC opportunity during the 2026 hiring cycle. Atlanta went the route of a veteran, defense-oriented coach last time around by reuniting with Raheem Morris. It will be interesting to see if a similar approach is taken this year.

7 comments Atlanta Falcons Detroit Lions San Francisco 49ers

2026 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

By | at January 7, 2026 9:50 pm

The Browns, Cardinals, Falcons and Raiders followed the Giants and Titans in firing head coaches, making those calls between the Week 18 conclusion and Black Monday. The Ravens then moved on from John Harbaugh after 18 seasons; two days later, the Dolphins canned Mike McDaniel. Following a wild-card loss, the Steelers and Mike Tomlin are separating after 19 years. Now, after an overtime divisional-round loss in Denver, Sean McDermott is out in Buffalo.

The 10 HC openings are tied with 1978, 1997, 2006 and 2022 for the most in one year. Here are the candidates connected to all those searches, including the four remaining jobs. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 1-25-26 (1:35pm CT)

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

11 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New York Giants PFR Originals Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/7/26

By | at January 7, 2026 9:37 pm

Today saw four teams establish reserve/futures deals for next year:

Cincinnati Bengals

  • WR Dohnte Meyers

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Commanders

1 comment Cincinnati Bengals Minnesota Vikings New Orleans Saints New York Giants San Francisco 49ers Transactions Washington Commanders
Show all
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors