The San Francisco 49ers held a bevy of free agent workouts on September 23, and the headliner was the son of a team legend.
Former Colorado safety Shilo Sanders — son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders — was among six defenders brought to Santa Clara as San Francisco looks to add depth on defense. NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco first reported the tryouts.
For Sanders, the invite is both a football lifeline and a bit of a full-circle moment. Deion won Defensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl with the 49ers in 1994. Waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a month ago after a preseason ejection for throwing a punch — a moment that also drew a $4,669 fine — the young DB is now trying to find a new home.
“You can’t throw punches in this league, that’s inexcusable,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said about Shilo’s fisticuffs during the preseason, via Greg Auman of Fox Sports. “They’re going to get you every time. You’ve got to grow from that.”
“We’re praying that he gets another opportunity to go with a team,” Deion said after Shilo’s release. Will the Niners be the team to give him one?
More on the 49ers Working Out Shilo Sanders, Other Defenders
GettyThe 49ers had safety Shilo Sanders and several others in for workouts.
The list of players brought in Tuesday underscored the 49ers’ priorities. Alongside Sanders were edge rushers William Bradley-King and Titus Leo, linebacker Isaiah Thomas and safeties Jaylen Mahoney and Brandon Joseph. Bradley-King didn’t leave the building: the club moved to add the 2021 Commanders seventh-rounder to its practice squad Tuesday, a response to the season-ending injury to DE Nick Bosa.
The interest in Sanders makes sense. San Francisco’s back end has leaned on young, inexpensive pieces so far in 2025, and special-teams value is currency for back-of-roster DBs. Sanders’ college profile — he’s a physical player who exudes confidence and energy — is similar to the traits the 49ers often like in their reserve safeties and gunners on special teams.
Mahoney played three games for the 49ers last year, while Joseph logged snaps with the Detroit Lions over the past two seasons. Stacking them next to a newer study like Sanders might help the personnel department gauge whether Sanders’ movement skills, range and tackling angles translate to NFL speed right now. It’s classic September roster re-tolling.
Bottom line: Tuesday wasn’t an overhaul so much as a targeted triage. If Sanders shows he can tackle cleanly, cover kicks and process the scheme, there may be a spot for him.
49ers Prepping for Week 4 vs. Jaguars
The 49ers are 3-0, but they’re doing it while managing injuries and youth on both sides of the ball, and the 2-1 Jacksonville Jaguars loom in Week 4.
The Niners cannot afford to overlook the Jags, particularly considering how banged up San Francisco is at the moment. In addition to losing their best defender in Bosa, the team is dealing with bumps and bruises to interior contributors like CJ West (thumb) and rookie Mykel Williams (wrist), which makes them more than a tad thin at edge.
Jags QB Trevor Lawrence is no slouch, but if DC Robert Saleh and company can find ways to manufacture pressure, the Niners should be able to come out with a win.
49ers Sign Former Commanders DE, Showing Interest in Son of Team Legend: Report