The San Francisco 49ers are keeping one of their playoff contributors around. The team is re-signing linebacker Garret Wallow to a one-year deal, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Wallow had been set to hit unrestricted free agency on Wednesday.
Sources: The #49ers are re-signing LB Garret Wallow to a 1-year deal.
Wallow started at LB for both of San Francisco’s playoff games last season. pic.twitter.com/nuCReWojpy
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 10, 2026
It is a quiet but telling move. Wallow only joined San Francisco in December. The fact that the 49ers moved quickly to bring him back says something about the impression he made in a short amount of time.
Wallow Proved His Worth for the 49ers
Wallow’s path to San Francisco was anything but straightforward. A fifth-round pick out of TCU in 2021, he spent his early career with the Houston Texans before brief stints with the Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos. The 49ers claimed him off waivers on December 8, 2025, with the season already deep into its final stretch.
He made the most of it. Wallow played 150 defensive snaps for San Francisco, with his most significant contributions coming in Week 18 and the postseason. In the Wild Card playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on January 11, he delivered a season-high 11 tackles. He also started San Francisco’s second playoff game. When Dee Winters returned to action, Wallow shifted to special teams without complaint, contributing on every unit available to him.
That kind of versatility and professionalism does not go unnoticed.
What the Move Means for San Francisco
The re-signing keeps the 49ers’ linebacker room largely intact. The current depth chart features Fred Warner, Winters, Tatum Bethune, Wallow, and Nick Martin.
At 27, Wallow fits the profile of a player San Francisco can rely on for years to come on special teams. The deal is likely at or near the veteran minimum. The value is real regardless.
Eric Kendricks, Curtis Robinson, and Luke Gifford all remain free agents. With Wallow back in the fold, the 49ers have a clearer picture of what their linebacker group looks like heading into the offseason program.
Final Word for San Francisco
Wallow earned this contract in less than four months. Two playoff starts, a strong showing against the Eagles, and a willingness to do whatever the team asked on special teams without hesitation.
The 49ers rewarded that. And with free agency now open and bigger decisions still to come on the roster, having a dependable, versatile linebacker locked in on a team-friendly deal is exactly the kind of foundation San Francisco builds on.
Wallow is not a headline name. He does not need to be. The 49ers know what they have, and they moved quickly to keep it.
That is how you build a winning roster.
