During this time in the offseason, NFL teams like the San Francisco 49ers are making various changes to their 90-man roster to create competition at different positions in training camp and preseason.
One 49ers player, Quindell Johnson, didn't get that opportunity to compete for a spot, as they waived him on May 13.
Former 49er Quindell Johnson Signs With Steelers
It didn't take long for the ex-49ers defender to find his next opportunity. On Wednesday, Johnson's agency, Universal Sports and Entertainment Management, announced that he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. And when you consider the circumstances that led to his departure from San Francisco, he could have a real shot at making the Steelers roster.
Johnson didn't spend a long time on the 49ers' roster after signing him to a future/reserve deal in January following the end of the 2025 NFL regular season. Johnson's was released when the 49ers signed undrafted free agent cornerback Derrick Canteen to a three-year deal. The increased secondary depth made him expendable.
Cornerback was a position of interest for the 49ers during the 2025 NFL draft and in the UDFA period following the departures of Charvarius Ward, Nick McCloud, Rock Ya-Sin, and Isaac Yiadom.
Meanwhile, the safety spot was already loaded with the free-agent signings of Richie Grant and Jason Pinnock. And not to mention, the 49ers drafted Marques Sigle in the fifth round, making it easy to move on from Johnson.
That indicates his release didn't have as much to do with any issues around his performance as it did the 49ers' roster construction in general. He's shown enough potential to keep teams interested since 2023, so the Steelers may well give him a close look this offseason.
The 25-year-old safety spent most of last season with the Los Angeles Rams, who signed him in September after the Chicago Bears parted ways at the end of preseason. It was Johnson’s second stint with the Rams, who initially signed him as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft.
Johnson didn’t see any regular-season snaps with the Rams in 2024, who released him from the practice squad in early January, leading him to join the 49ers a couple of weeks later.
The last time the 6-foot-2 defensive back played in a regular-season game was in 2023 with the Bears. During that 2023 campaign, Johnson appeared in nine games, predominantly playing on special teams. Johnson had three combined tackles and an interception.
It won’t be easy for Johnson to crack the Steelers roster with his lack of NFL playing experience, but he'll try to make the 49ers regret cutting ties before ever giving him a chance to compete on the field.