Santa Clara, CA – November 5, 2025
The San Francisco 49ers may have just delivered the fastest disciplinary decision of the 2025 season. Only 57 minutes after officially elevating a rookie defensive end to their 53-man roster at the exact trade deadline, the team abruptly reversed course, sending shockwaves through the locker room and league circles.
The player in question is rookie DE Will Bradley-King, a former Baylor standout signed as depth behind Nick Bosa and Yetur Gross-Matos. He was promoted to replace Mykel Williams, who is sidelined indefinitely with a high-ankle sprain. But just hours after the Week 9 win over the New York Giants — a 34–24 victory at MetLife Stadium — Bradley-King was arrested for DUI, ending his roster stint almost instantly.
According to the Santa Clara Police report, Bradley-King left the team celebration around 1:28 AM and was stopped at 1:52 AM after drifting across lanes, running a stoplight, and scraping a traffic post. His blood alcohol test registered 0.11% — roughly 1.4 times California’s legal limit.
No injuries were reported, but an open whiskey bottle on the floorboard and his refusal to submit to a roadside test escalated the incident. When the official police file reached the 49ers around 4:46 PM, the team needed only seven minutes to issue a transaction notice: Bradley-King was waived on the spot.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was direct when addressing the decision:
“This stage of the season, discipline isn’t a slogan — it’s survival. If we ignore one mistake, we lose the whole locker room.”
His words made it clear: talent doesn’t outrank accountability, not even for a rookie trying to break through.
General manager John Lynch added that the organization still believes in Bradley-King’s physical upside, but “trust once broken is harder to replace than a depth chart spot.” Meanwhile, Nick Bosa posted a supportive message on social media, and #BradleyKing briefly trended in the Bay Area within minutes of the news.
Bradley-King later posted a public apology at 6:05 PM, confirming he would voluntarily enter a 30-day alcohol program. His agent said the 25-year-old “fully accepts responsibility and understands the consequences.” Many fans expressed sympathy once they learned it was his first known disciplinary issue.
After internal discussions and formal apologies, the 49ers brought Bradley-King back — this time on the practice squad, under a strict three-week probation clause. From “deadline call-up hero” to “57-minute cautionary tale,” his story now stands as a reminder of how thin the line is between opportunity and regret in the NFL.
