T
he San Francisco 49ers checked off a very important box on their offseason to-do list. Late last month, the 49ers and star left tackle Trent Williams agreed on a restructured deal that lowered his cap number for 2026 giving him a new, two-year, $50 million extension. Despite entering his age-38 season, Williams is still playing at a high level, making his return a massive win for the 49ers.
But the 49ers want to put any future contract disputes with Williams to rest. In addition to handing Williams a massive new extension and making sure to keep the future Hall of Famer happy, the team added a no holdout clause, which gives Williams a bonus if he does not holdout at any point during the contract.
No Holdout Clause
Williams has been an integral part of the 49ers’ recipe since the moment he was acquired in 2020, earning several accolades and building up his Hall of Fame resume. But in the midst of all of his success, he has also been prone to dealing with contract disputes, holding out for part of the offseason program and camp for a new contract in 2024 before entering a contract dispute again this year. In the no holdout clause, Williams earns an extra $11.5 million ahead of the ’28 season if he avoids anymore holdouts.
“If Williams is on the roster on September 1 of 2027 and does not hold out or miss any offseason time he will earn an $11.5 million roster bonus in 2028 that will be fully guaranteed if earned,” Over the Cap wrote.
Bringing Williams back was vital though, considering how the 49ers had no clear succession plan in place. Now, the team can look ahead to the 2026 season and do what they can to return to being true Super Bowl contenders in a crowded NFC.
Williams in Recent Seasons
Since joining the 49ers, Williams has continually got better, being named to five Pro Bowls and earning three consecutive first-team All-Pro honors from 2021-23. But in 2024, Williams experienced major injury issues, missing seven games with an ankle injury and looking less like himself in the games he did play. Still, Williams was highly regarded heading into 2025, coming in at No. 45 on the NFL Top 100 Players for 2025 list.
Williams then bounced back in 2025, earning Pro Bowl honors and being named a second-team All-Pro. If Williams can continue to play at a high level in 2026, it will open up the 49ers’ offense even more and be a great step towards achieving their goals.
49ers Add Interesting Twist to Trent Williams’ Contract