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What should 49ers do with core special teamer hitting free agency?
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- What should 49ers do with core special teamer hitting free agency?
The 2025 NFL season is officially over, as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 61 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The next team that will play an NFL game on that field is the San Francisco 49ers , who call Levi's Stadium home, but there's a lot of work to do before we get to that point.
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One of the first steps in San Francisco 's preparation will be deciding who they'll re-sign from their list of nearly 30 pending this offseason, including linebacker Luke Gifford .
While John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan still have some time to decide, let's examine the choice that they'll have to make.
Luke Gifford 2025 season recap
Gifford joined the 49ers on a one-year deal after four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and two with the Tennessee Titans . He appeared in all 17 games, playing 16% of the team's defensive snaps and 81% of their special teams snap. He finished with 35 tackles, one pass defensed and a fumble recovery on his way to his first Pro Bowl.
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Potential replacements for Luke Gifford
San Francisco has four linebackers, including Gifford, hitting free agency, but with Nick Martin , Milo Eifler and Jalen Graham coming back, there are some potential replacements to fill Gifford's role already on the roster.
If they want to find a depth linebacker and special teams contributor, Grant Stuard and Malcolm Rodriguez are among the top options available in free agency.
What contract could Luke Gifford receive as a free agent?
Gifford made just $1.8 million in 2025, but after a Pro Bowl season, that number will probably go up this offseason. He could make between $3 million and $5 million from a team that really focuses on special teams.
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Should the 49ers re-sign Luke Gifford?
The 31-year-old likely won't break the bank this offseason, so the 49ers should consider bringing him back for another year, as long as the money is right.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers free agency: Should San Francisco re-sign Luke Gifford in 2026?
