49ers veteran tackle takes down important retirement question following loss to Seattle.
The San Francisco 49ers watched their 2025 campaign come to a jarring halt with a 41-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round, a finish that hardly reflected the grit the team showed all season.
As the offseason begins, attention has quickly shifted toward the future of cornerstone players, none more significant than veteran left tackle Trent Williams.
Injuries once again defined much of San Francisco’s year, and Williams dealt with his own share of setbacks.
A hamstring injury forced him to miss the regular-season finale against Seattle, sparking concern about his availability moving forward. However, when the playoffs arrived, Williams was back on the field.
He returned for the Wild Card round and played a pivotal role in the 49ers’ 23-19 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles before gutting through the divisional loss days later.
Williams will be 38 years old when the 2026 season begins, an age that naturally fuels speculation about retirement.
Yet the future Hall of Famer has been unwavering in his stance. Following the season-ending defeat, Williams made it clear that he plans to continue his career and suit up for the 49ers next season.
“Yeah, that’s accurate,” Williams said when asked directly if he expects to return.
It wasn’t the first time he addressed the topic.
After San Francisco’s Week 16 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Williams went out of his way to reassure fans that he has no plans to walk away anytime soon, confidently stating that he still has multiple years left in him.
From a performance standpoint, Williams gave the 49ers little reason to doubt him. He appeared in 18 games, including both postseason matchups, and remained one of the league’s most dependable offensive linemen.
Pro Football Focus credited him with an overall grade of 91.1 entering the Divisional Round, marking the fifth time in six seasons he reached that elite threshold.
While his 78.8 pass-blocking grade and 38 pressures allowed were signs of the physical toll of the season, his overall impact remained undeniable.
Williams’ hamstring injury lingered into the playoffs, limiting him early in the practice week before he returned to full participation.
He entered the Divisional Round without an injury designation, a testament to his toughness and preparation.
Financially, Williams is positioned to return to red and gold.
He just completed the second season of the three-year, $82.66 million extension he signed in 2024 and has confirmed his intention to play out the final year of the deal.
Now entering his seventh season with the 49ers, Williams continues to defy age. His 12th Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honor in 2025 further reinforced his status as one of the NFL’s premier tackles.
For San Francisco, having Williams back in 2026 would mean stability, leadership, and elite play at one of football’s most demanding positions.