The San Francisco 49ers will have to replace one of their offensive linemen after losing a veteran to retirement.
San Francisco had a disappointing season, finishing 6-11 after three straight seasons of making it to the Super Bowl or NFC Conference Championship. Injuries were a big issue for the team this past season, with many players missing significant time. Guard Jonathan Feliciano stated he was stepping away from football after missing the 2024 season with a knee injury.
In a post on X, Feliciano spoke about his time with the 49ers and had a message for them for next season.
“Playing for the 49ers on the most stacked team I’ve ever been a part of,” Feliciano wrote. “All I had to do was come in and not mess it up. I had the best season of my career, and we won the NFC West and the NFC Championships. We just fell a little short in the Super Bowl. What followed was the worst year of my career. My knee tapped out, and I ended up missing the whole season. I am thankful for my teammates who were there for me and tried to keep my spirits up when I was going through it.”
“After months of weighing my options, I realized I had to leave the game. The fire is still there, but I know I can’t last a full season and can’t bring myself to let people down. That being said, Buffalo or SF, I’ll be ready for a playoff run in December if you need me.”
Though the desire is there to return to football, Feliciano clarified that he doesn’t think his body could hold up for a full season. If San Francisco returns to the playoffs next season and needs linemen depth, giving the veteran a call could be a good idea.
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