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DeForest Buckner on Trade to 49ers: ‘This Is Where I Wanted to Be'
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- DeForest Buckner on Trade to 49ers: ‘This Is Where I Wanted to Be'
DeForest Buckner first emerged as an NFL star with the San Francisco 49ers after they took him with the No. 7 pick in the 2016 draft. He made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2018, and the following season, he helped the 49ers get to the brink of winning the Super Bowl championship.
But in the 2020 offseason, the defensive tackle and the organization couldn't come to terms on a contract extension, and the Niners traded him to the Indianapolis Colts. They prioritized paying defensive lineman Arik Armstead instead, and fans have generally seen that as a mistake from the beginning.
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But the 49ers at least somewhat atoned for that by sending a 2027 fourth-round draft pick to the Colts last Tuesday to acquire Buckner. He's now back with them, and he has the opportunity to help them return to the Super Bowl and possibly win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Buckner wanted to come back to the Bay Area
Buckner talked to local reporters on Monday and let it be known that he wanted to return to the Niners.
"When everything kind of unfolded and everything, I stated that I wanted to come here," Buckner said. "I didn't want to go anywhere else. Obviously, the familiarity with being here, being drafted here, all the guys that are still here when I was here, watching them. I've been keeping up with the games over the years and just watching the standard of play that they play at, and the winning football that they play at. This is where I wanted to be."
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He said he was "in shock" and "heartbroken" about being traded away in 2020, but he also added that "everything happens for a reason." Once things in Indianapolis started to fall apart midway through last season, and once it started poorly this season, he started to get linked to his former team.
By trading Buckner and star guard Quenton Nelson last week, the Colts appear to be in the process of tearing things down. There are now rumors that three-time Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor could get moved next.
Buckner is now 32 years of age, but he's still playing at a high level. Through seven games this season, he has logged four sacks, eight quarterback hits, four tackles for loss and three passes defended. Playing alongside studs such as defensive end Nick Bosa and linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw once again could unlock the best version of Buckner that is available right now.
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Coming off their bye week, the 49ers will play the Las Vegas Raiders this Sunday. Of course, they could still have another trade up their sleeve before the NFL's Nov. 10 trade deadline.
More on the San Francisco 49ers
This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
