Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Former teammate reacts to 49ers releasing George Odum

Originally posted on 49ers Webzone | By David Bonilla | Last updated Jul 20, 2025 10:24 AM ET

The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for training camp, with veterans scheduled to report to the team's facility on Tuesday. However, one familiar face will be absent—veteran safety and special-teams ace George Odum. The 49ers released Odum on Saturday, signaling another shift in their special teams unit.

Odum joined the 49ers in 2022, playing 69% of the team's special teams snaps in each of the past two seasons. His release didn't go unnoticed by one former teammate, long snapper Taybor Pepper, who took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his candid opinion of the move.

"Okay now I'm pissed," Pepper wrote.

Okay now I'm pissed https://t.co/JX8YdO0bYi— Taybor Pepper (@TayborSnapping) July 19, 2025

Pepper himself was part of the team's special teams overhaul earlier this offseason. After the hiring of new special teams coordinator Brant Boyer, the 49ers released Pepper in March and replaced him with longtime NFL long snapper Jon Weeks. The team also parted ways with punter Mitch Wishnowsky in May, bringing in Thomas Morstead, who is entering his 17th season, as his replacement.

As for Odum, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the 30-year-old underwent elbow surgery last month due to an offseason injury.

The safety was recently placed on the active/non-football injury list, with an expected recovery timeline of six to eight weeks. That makes a midseason return with an NFL team a strong possibility.