Feb. 1, 2026, 5:45 p.m. PT
The San Francisco 49ers failed to accomplish their ultimate goal in 2025 of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for a sixth time, and now they have nearly 30 players set to hit the market in March.
Among those players slated to leave is punter Thomas Morstead, who spent time with the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins before joining the 49ers.
Let’s look at San Francisco’s decision that they’ll have to make this offseason to either move on from Morstead or bring him back for another year.
Thomas Morstead 2025 season recap
Morstead inked a one-year, $1.26 million deal with the 49ers last offseason and was released during roster cuts, so the team could move players on to injured reserve after the season began.
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The 39-year-old quickly returned to the roster before Week 1 and went on to punt the ball 44 times for 43.6 yards per boot and 50% of his kicks landing inside the 20-yard line.
Potential replacements for Thomas Morstead
While the 49ers don’t have any other punters on their roster, there are a few intriguing options available in free agency, including Bradley Pinion, Tommy Townsend, Braden Mann and First-team All-Pro Jordan Stout.
What contract could Thomas Morstead receive as a free agent?
Morstead was tied for the 20th-highest paid punter in the NFL last season at $1.26 million for the year. He’ll be 40 this year, so there’s a chance that he retires, but if he doesn’t, his salary will likely be similar for 2026.
Should the 49ers re-sign Thomas Morstead?
Morstead had the fewest yards per punt in the NFL among all punters with at least 17 attempts last season, but his 50% of kicks landing inside the 20-yard line may have something to do with that.
The 49ers should look to upgrade and find a potential long-term option at the position, but if they settle on Morstead for 2026, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.
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