The San Francisco 49ers had a curious series of events surrounding fullback Kyle Juszczyk this offseason. The All-Pro fullback and longest-tenured member was released earlier this month before re-signing with the team on a two-year, $8 million deal shortly after the league’s free agency period opened.
Some are glad to see Juszczyk back in San Francisco. But others may wonder why they decided to release him only to bring him back four days later. 49ers general manager John Lynch tried to explain his decision on Wednesday, and his comments only seem to have made things more complicated.
John Lynch Explains Controversial Decision to Keep Kyle Juszczyk
Speaking to reporters during Stanford’s Pro Day, Lynch admitted it’s been a difficult offseason. Juszczyk’s release was just one of those decisions as Lynch revealed that the move was made to eliminate the need to restructure Juszczyk’s contract on a regular basis.
“It worked out,” Lynch said via Cam Inman of The Mercury News. "He was able to go see what was there. Sometimes you have to go through that process to know how much this place meant to him. We did what we could do at the end and we met at a place where we were both happy."
Juszczyk visited the Pittsburgh Steelers after he was released but ultimately the move played out. He is beloved within the organization and honored with his picture on a wall honoring 10-year veterans in the team’s Santa Clara headquarters. It also was a controversial decision regarding the team’s roster construction.
Hours after Juszczyk’s return was announced, the 49ers decided to trade Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings. While San Francisco moved up from their sixth-round pick into the fifth round in this year’s draft and netted a 2026 sixth-round pick from Minnesota, Mason was effective in relief of Christian McCaffrey, running for 789 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Keeping a 25-year-old running back over a 33-year-old fullback seems like it would have been a better long-term decision. But Lynch clearly thought otherwise. With McCaffrey, who will turn 29 in June, returning to the lineup, the 49ers will have a familiar backfield in 2025.