The San Francisco 49ers had a successful 2025 campaign for all intents and purposes, but they still came up short in their quest to win the Super Bowl. As a result, the team is headed back to the drawing board in an effort to find a way to make the proper upgrades to their roster that will allow them to get back to the top of the NFL’s proverbial mountain.
With Kyle Shanahan‘s coaching staff largely set in stone, the Niners’ next order of business will involve figuring out which of its pending free agents it wants to keep in town. One of those players is backup offensive lineman Nick Zakelj, but he has received some clarity on his future before even hitting the open market.
49ers Sign Nick Zakelj to One-Year Contract Extension
Zakelj was initially selected by the 49ers in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and ever since then, he’s served as a key depth piece for the team along its offensive line. As we have seen over the past few seasons, you can never have enough help on your o-line, which makes Zakelj a valuable player, even though he doesn’t play all that much.
In four seasons, Zakelj has suited up for 29 games, two of which have been starts. However, he played in just three games in 2025, indicating that his future with the team could be up in the air. Considering all the injuries San Francisco dealt with along its offensive line, the lack of action Zakelj saw on the field was a bit surprising.
Still, he serves an important role as one of the final layers of depth along the o-line for San Fran, and it’s clear the team values him, even if he isn’t taking the field all that much. As a result, Zakelj signed a one-year contract extension with the 49ers this week, as the team managed to keep him in town without even allowing him to hit the open market.
“The San Francisco 49ers today announced they have re-signed OL Nick Zakelj to a one-year extension,” the team wrote on its official website.
49ers Work in Free Agency is Only Just Getting Started
Injuries have pretty much been the story of the past two seasons for the Niners, so having depth is more important for them than perhaps any other team in the league. Zakelj certainly isn’t the flashiest player on the team’s roster, but San Fran is renowned for making sure it checks off every box when it comes to its offseason work, even if the move being made is only a minor one.
The important work in San Fran is still on the horizon, though. While the team had some unexpected contributors emerge last season, there are holes on this roster that still need to be filled. How the front office attacks the offseason will likely determine how successful this team is in 2026, assuming, of course, they can stay healthier than they did in 2025.
