49ers Release Long Snapper Taybor Pepper Amid Roster Overhaul

San Francisco, CA — The San Francisco 49ers have announced the release of long snapper Taybor Pepper, a decision that underscores the team’s ongoing roster overhaul following the start of the new league year. According to Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area, this significant move occurred on Thursday, impacting Pepper’s five-season tenure with the team.

At 30 years old, Pepper played every game since joining the 49ers in September 2020. He was highly regarded as a consistent performer and even signed a three-year extension in 2023, which would have kept him under contract through the upcoming 2025 NFL season. However, with the team’s release of Pepper, they are poised to save approximately $1.3 million in salary cap space, as reported by OverTheCap.com.

“Thank you, Faithful! Wanted to end my career with the 49ers, but I’ve still got some years left in the tank,” Pepper wrote on social media following the announcement of his release. “I’ll deeply miss all the amazing support staff that continue to keep the organization moving.”

Chan’s report also indicated that the 49ers are looking at John Weeks, a 39-year-old veteran long snapper most recently with the Houston Texans, as a possible replacement. Weeks played under a one-year contract worth $1.377 million, making him an experienced option as the team reshuffles its special teams unit.

Throughout his time with San Francisco, Pepper became a dependable player and rarely attracted negative attention, a sign of his efficiency in the long snapping role. Prior to his time with the 49ers, he spent a year with the Miami Dolphins and was initially signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

The 49ers’ decision to release Pepper is part of a larger pattern of roster adjustments this offseason, including parting ways with other notable players such as defensive tackle Maliek Collins and fullback Kyle Juszczyk. These moves have led fans to view the team’s activities as a strategic retooling rather than a full-scale rebuild.

As the 49ers continue to reconfigure their lineup, it will be essential for the organization to find a reliable snapper quickly, whether through free agency or the upcoming draft. With significant adjustments already underway, all eyes will remain focused on how the 49ers finalize their special teams unit moving forward.