Kyle Juszczyk almost walked away from the only NFL home he’s known for nearly a decade. The San Francisco 49ers’ fullback came within days of ending his eight-year run in the Bay Area before both sides found a way to make it work. With a new two-year deal keeping him through 2026, Juszczyk finds himself watching a teammate navigate the pressure of a massive payday.
How Did Kyle Juszczyk Nearly Leave San Francisco After Eight Seasons?
As one of the longest-tenured members of the team, Juszczyk was released from the club on March 11 before ultimately re-signing just days later. This brief separation highlighted how quickly NFL business can change, even for veteran players who have become synonymous with their franchises.
Despite the 49ers missing the playoffs in 2024 with a disappointing 6-11 record, Juszczyk continued his excellence. He earned his ninth consecutive Pro Bowl nomination after hauling in 19 receptions for 200 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He also added a rushing touchdown to his stat line.
Meanwhile, the organization made a much larger financial commitment elsewhere. The 49ers recently re-signed quarterback Brock Purdy to a five-year, $265 million contract extension, which includes $181 million in guaranteed money.
Will There Be Any Added Pressure On Brock Purdy After His Mammoth New Contract Extension?
Juszczyk appeared at the American Century Championship in Lake Tahoe and was asked if there would be any elevated expectations for the 49ers and Purdy after his significant new extension.
“Not really, just because we all expected last year that he was going to get paid,” Juszczyk said. “But his expectations are always gonna be high for himself, and it’s always going to be more each year. But we just expect Brock to do what he’s been doing.”
Purdy has played the last three seasons for the 49ers, who chose him with the No. 262 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. So far in his career, he’s completed 722 of 1,069 passing attempts and racked up 9,518 yards and 64 touchdowns, earning him a 104.9 passer rating. As far as his ground game goes, Purdy has amassed 127 carries for 480 yards and eight touchdowns.
In just three seasons, Brock Purdy has:
💰 9,518 passing yards
💰 64 passing TDs
💰 4 Playoff Wins
💰 NFC Championship
💰 Pro BowlEARNED every penny of that $265M extension 🤑 pic.twitter.com/pkn1fvfoag
— NFL (@NFL) May 16, 2025
However, the 49ers will be under additional pressure to return to the postseason. After years of playoff success, they aren’t accustomed to not playing beyond the regular season.
Juszczyk and his teammates will use their poor 6-11 record in 2024 as motivation to not only turn the tables in 2025 but also go as far as they can in the postseason.
“I think we’ve been extremely hungry this whole offseason,” Juszczyk said. “The fact that everybody was there and everyone was grinding, there was that little extra motivation to really get this thing going.”
The 49ers will begin preseason play against the Denver Broncos on Aug. 9, while they’ll take on the Seattle Seahawks in their regular season opener on Sept. 7.
