The San Francisco 49ers resolved the contract dispute with Trent Williams in late April by re-signing him to a two-year, $50 million extension, with $37 million fully guaranteed and a $22 million signing bonus, keeping him under contract through the 2027 season. The future Hall of Famer is coming off a strong 2025 campaign in which he played 16 regular-season games, the most since 2013, while sitting out one and a half contests with a hamstring injury. Williams is getting up there in age, turning 38 in July and will be 39 for the 2027 season. In March 2021, he flirted with the idea of playing until 40, saying it was “within reach.”
The San Francisco 49ers’ future Hall of Famer hints at retirement date
Oct 6, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams (71) before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
During a Wednesday interview with ESPN NFL Nation’s Nick Wagoner, Trent Williams was asked about his future in the NFL and whether his career will end after the 2027 season, when his contract expires. The future Hall of Famer said, “probably.” Williams also added that he is toying with the idea of playing until he can’t anymore and retiring while he still has some gas left in the tank rather than being run out of the league. He also shared that he wants to be there for his daughter, who is turning 17, adding that he has basically missed her whole life and wants to change that.
“Yeah, probably,” Williams said, via Wagoner.
“It’s scary,” Williams added. “I’m toying between the idea of going until I can’t no more and just leaving while I’ve still got some good product left and not getting ran out the league.
“It’s been a long time, and I have a daughter who was born a few months before I got drafted. I’m going on year 17. She’s turning 17. As a father, you feel like, ‘Dang, I kind of missed her whole life until adulthood.’ … She [will] go off to college in a couple years. I want to be there and be accessible, and I don’t want to be that father that shadows the kid. I want to be close. You know what I mean? I want to be close. I don’t want to be somewhere at a joint practice.”
Will the 49ers draft his replacement next year?
Sep 13, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Trevor Goosby (74) rests during a game against the Texas El Paso Miners at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
The 49ers passed on selecting an offensive tackle in the first and second rounds of the 2025 and 2026 NFL Drafts, but may select one very high in the 2027 NFL Draft, which is considered loaded. Notable potential left tackle prospects include Texas’s Trevor Goosby, LSU transfer Jordan Seaton, Iowa’s Trevor Lauck, Missouri’s Cayden Green, Indiana’s Carter Smith, Ohio State’s Austin Siereveld, South Carolina transfer Jacarrius Peak, and Michigan’s Blake Frazier. In this scenario, they will sit behind Trent Williams in 2027, then potentially take over in 2028 if Williams retires.