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49ers may release 12-time Pro Bowl player

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Feb 24, 2026 4:54 PM ET

The San Francisco 49ers may have to part ways with one of their most accomplished players.

The 49ers are locked in a contract standoff with star tackle Trent Williams, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. If the two sides cannot find a solution to address Williams’ $39 million cap hit, the 49ers may have no choice but to release the three-time All-Pro.

With five-time All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams scheduled to carry a $39 million cap number this season, he and the 49ers currently are struggling to find a contractual solution, per league sources. If the two sides can’t bridge their differences in their standoff, Williams… pic.twitter.com/gJlCpTHSlz
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 24, 2026

Williams is as good as any offensive lineman in the sport and would be a highly coveted free agent. He has been an enormously important part of San Francisco’s line since joining the team in 2020, earning three straight first-team All-Pro honors from 2021 to 2023.

This is not the first time Williams and the 49ers have been locked in a contract dispute. He threatened to hold out into the regular season in 2024, but the two sides ultimately got a deal done.

Williams has been named to 12 Pro Bowls during his illustrious career. The 37-year-old has also shown remarkable durability, having played in at least 14 games in every season but one since joining the Niners.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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