Injuries ravaged San Francisco's linebackers. Re-signing veteran Eric Kendricks offers immediate stability and experienced leadership.
The move makes too much sense and the Niners already sound interested.
The move? San Francisco 49ers linebacker Eric Kendricks.
Two seasons ago, it felt like being a San Francisco 49ers running back was the most physically hazardous job in football.
Last season? It might have been playing linebacker.
The Niners’ second level was decimated by injuries throughout the year. All-Pro Fred Warner missed significant time with an ankle injury, and the depth behind him was tested beyond its limits. Dee Winters battled inconsistencies and health setbacks. Tatum Bethune flashed but couldn’t stay fully available. Rookie Nick Martin’s development was stalled by early struggles and missed reps.
What was once one of the league’s most stable linebacker units suddenly became a revolving door.
That’s what made the late-season addition of veteran Eric Kendricks so important.
Now a pending free agent, Kendricks may not fit the long-term youth movement general manager John Lynch has emphasized this offseason. He turns 34 before the start of the 2026 campaign, and the 49ers have been vocal about getting younger and faster.
But sometimes, the obvious move is still the right move.
Re-signing Eric Kendricks is the simplest solution
Kendricks arrived late, learned the system quickly, and delivered when it mattered most.
In limited regular-season action, he provided steady snaps and veteran communication. In the playoffs, he elevated. His performance in the Wild Card win over the Philadelphia Eagles wasn’t just solid and stabilizing. The defense looked organized. Calm. Functional again.
That matters.
San Francisco doesn’t need Kendricks to be a 17-game, 100-tackle centerpiece. They need insurance. They need someone who can step in without the defense collapsing if injuries strike again.
And based on John Lynch’s comments at the NFL Scouting Combine, the interest is mutual.
When speaking about Kendricks’ impact, Lynch made it clear the organization valued what the veteran brought to the locker room and the field, especially considering how quickly he had to get up to speed.
The reality is that Winters and Bethune are still proving themselves. Martin remains a projection. Counting on all three to stay healthy and take a leap simultaneously is risky business.
Re-signing Kendricks buys time.
A short-term deal makes too much sense
This doesn’t need to be a long-term commitment. A one-year, team-friendly contract keeps flexibility intact while preventing the defense from entering another depth crisis.
San Francisco learned the hard way what happens when linebacker depth erodes.
The 49ers don’t need a splash signing. They don’t need a draft gamble at the position in Round 1.
They just need stability.
Sometimes the smartest offseason move isn’t flashy and it’s something that’s familiar.
Bringing Eric Kendricks back checks every box for a team that can’t afford another year of linebacker uncertainty.