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Kevin Givens wasn't drafted out of Penn State but that hasn't stopped him from carving out a lengthy stay with the San Francisco 49ers. The former Nittany Lions standout will continue that run next season.
The defensive tackle signed a one-year contract with San Francisco earlier this week, remaining with that franchise for a seventh season. The financial details of this latest deal remain undisclosed but, according to Spotrac, Givens has earned approximately $6.6 million across his professional career.
The 49ers have come to rely on him as a quality defensive line depth piece since signing him as a rookie free agent shortly after the 2019 NFL Draft ended. He has appeared in 65 regular-season games, making 14 starts along the way while totaling 90 tackles (18 for loss) with eight sacks and 18 QB hits.
The 6-foot-1, 285-pound Givens has also been involved in a few San Francisco playoff runs. He has collected 12 tackles across nine postseason games, including action in a Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last year.
Givens was sidelined the final month of 2024 regular-season work after tearing a pectoral muscle. He previously missed four matchups due to a groin injury, so Givens was limited to only eight contests — his lowest total since 2019. Still, he managed to collect a career-high 3.5 sacks and six QB hits. He produced a 2.5-sack performance during San Francisco's Sept. 29 victory over the New England Patriots.
Givens is one of two undrafted players from Penn State's 2019 NFL prospect group who has established himself as a league veteran. The other is offensive lineman Ryan Bates, who like Givens didn't find a draft landing spot despite leaving campus with junior eligibility. Bates, who now plays for the Chicago Bears, is also approaching Season 7 and his career earnings exceed $18 million, per Spotrac.
During his Penn State football career, Givens earned All-Big Ten Freshman honors in 2016 and emerged as a crucial piece of the Nittany Lions defensive front, registering 22 starts during his career. He started the final 12 games of the 2018 campaign and was routinely mentioned by coaches and teammates as a player who didn't receive enough credit for his impact.
Givens finished his final college season with 33 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks. His career totals included 83 tackles — 22 behind the line of scrimmage — and 13.5 sacks.
A three-time Penn State staff pick for Defensive Player of the Week, he was a late addition to the Nittany Lions' 2015 recruiting class out of Altoona, Pa. Givens was listed at 245 pounds on National Signing Day.
"Kevin's evolution and growth since arriving on campus is impressive," Penn State coach James Franklin said after Givens turned pro. "He came in as a high school outside linebacker and running back and transitioned to defensive end here and then moved to defensive tackle. His versatility was an asset for our team."
He earned the Jim O'Hora Award in 2018, presented to the Nittany Lions defensive player with exemplary conduct, loyalty, interest, attitude and improvement during spring practice. Givens is one of three former Penn State defenders on the current San Francisco roster, alongside safety Ji'Ayir Brown and lineman Yetur Gross-Matos.
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