Joe Staley is no longer in a contract year. The longtime 49ers left tackle agreed to a two-year extension to stay with the team through 2021, the 49ers announced Wednesday night.
Back in April, the six-time Pro Bowler had not yet decided about playing beyond the 2019 season. Evidently, he now has. This new deal will tether Staley to the 49ers through his age-37 season. At the 49ers’ state of the franchise event, Staley indicated a desire to play for only one NFL team (video link via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area).
Staley’s two-year extension includes $27.6MM in new money, a source tells ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). With the add-on, the veteran can now make $36.15MM total over the next three years.
The 34-year-old lineman has started all 174 regular-season games he’s played since being a 2007 first-round pick. He sits 13th on the 49ers’ all-time games-played list and is on the cusp of climbing into the top 10. Staley playing out this extension would give him a chance to trail only Jerry Rice on this list. Among non-quarterbacks currently on NFL rosters, only Larry Fitzgerald has started more games (232) for the team that drafted him than Staley.
Despite being in his 12th season in 2018, Staley graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 6 overall tackle. And that lofty grade represented a slight dip from his performances for most of this decade. The 49ers are clearly comfortable beginning their full-fledged Jimmy Garoppolo era with their longest-tenured player serving as his top protector.
The 49ers now have Staley, right tackle Mike McGlinchey, guards Laken Tomlinson and Mike Person, and center Weston Richburg signed through at least 2021. Staley was set to count $10.95MM against the 49ers’ cap this season; that number can be expected to go down due to this extension.
Awesome!! Love me some Staley, and the 49ers should let him keep playing as long as he wants…He’s been one of the top LTs in the NFL ever since he was drafted, and he’s still playing with grit, enthusiasm, and last year seeked to play with a rejuvenated mindset.
Him and McGlinchey are gold for the 49ers O-Line. I’m glad they’re going to be able to work together for atleast another two more seasons!!
Sam, can you provide the link please? Looked up Joe Staley and some guy from 2006 who never played pops up. Thanks!
Joe is still a young pup and has to stick around a while longer before he can join the Quarter Century Club with Lomas Brown, Jackie Slater and Mike Kenn who all played more than 250 games on the OL.
None of those guys played a quarter century though….