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After 13 seasons in the NFL, Joe Staley will retire. The 49ers’ lynchpin for more than a decade will not be returning, after six Pro Bowl seasons, three second-team All-Pro nods and two Super Bowl appearances, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, due to health concerns. Staley suffered a fractured fibula, and a broken finger last season.
Here’s what helped set into motion the Trent Williams’ trade: six-time Pro Bowl and All-Decade OT Joe Staley is expected to retire due to health concerns, per league sources. The 35-year-old Staley wanted to inform the 49ers in a timely way to help find a replacement. They have.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 25, 2020
While Staley signed a two-year, $28 million extension with the 49ers before the 2019 season and he maintained throughout the year that he was happy to continue playing, even getting annoyed with the questions, rumblings started to brew in the offseason that Staley might retire. NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco said on April 23 on KNBR just before the start of the 2020 Draft that “I kinda doubt” that Staley would return to the 49ers.
It seems that Staley’s mind changed after a second Super Bowl loss, as he maintained throughout the regular season that he planned on returning. He acknowledged in the post Super Bowl availability that losing again was exhausting.
The 49ers traded for Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams on Saturday morning as a clear one-for-one replacement. Staley was due $12.5 million this season, while Williams is due $14.5 million.
