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49ers DE Bryce Huff announces NFL retirement

Originally posted on 49ers Webzone | By David Bonilla | Last updated Mar 12, 2026 4:23 PM ET

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Bryce Huff has announced his retirement from the NFL, sharing the news in a video posted to Instagram.

"I'm retiring from football," Huff said in the video. "I started playing football when I was four years old. Growing up, I wasn't the biggest or the strongest, and I didn't have many friends. All I really had was the game. Football kept me grounded. It gave me something to hold onto."

Huff spent one season with the 49ers after being acquired in a 2025 trade from the Philadelphia Eagles. San Francisco battled through injuries throughout the season but still finished 12–5 and secured a playoff berth.

"We battled through injuries, fought our way into the playoffs, and gave everything we had," Huff said. "Through all of it, I realized something. Football has been my entire life. I've played ever since I was four years old, but at 27 years old, I know I'm capable of giving the world more than just football.

"The game taught me perseverance, it taught me discipline, it taught me how to lead and how to find a way forward when things feel impossible. Now it's time for the next chapter of my life."

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Huff (6-3, 255) originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets out of Memphis in 2020. He spent four seasons with the Jets before signing with the Eagles in 2024, where he was part of the team's Super Bowl LIX roster.

During the 2025 season with the 49ers, Huff appeared in 15 games with eight starts. He recorded 30 tackles, six tackles for loss, and 15 quarterback hits while adding four sacks and two forced fumbles as part of San Francisco's defensive line rotation.

Over six NFL seasons, Huff appeared in 81 games and totaled 108 tackles, 24 sacks, and four forced fumbles. His retirement will save the 49ers $5.4 million in salary cap space this year.

This article first appeared on 49ers Webzone and was syndicated with permission.

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