49ers Sign Quarterback Again, Release Arik Armstead, and Make Other Changes

The 49ers of San Francisco have declared that DL Arik Armstead has been released. Furthermore, the team has inked OL Colton McKivitz to a one-year agreement through the 2025 season, re-signed QB Brandon Allen to a one-year contract, and signed S George Odum to a two-year extension through the 2026 season.

The 49ers selected Armstead (6-7, 290) with the 17th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Armstead played in 116 games (97 starts) throughout his nine-year San Francisco tenure (2015–24). He finished with 302 tackles, 33.5 sacks, six passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Along with recording 38 tackles, 8.0 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery, he also started all 12 of his postseason games. The Armstead 8.0 Postseason sack totals are the second-highest in

Armstead made 12 starts in 2023, tallying 27 tackles and 5.0 sacks. Along with starting all three postseason games, he finished with 11 tackles, one sack, and one recovered fumble. Armstead was named the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, given out by Nationwide, for the fourth season in a row. Through the Armstead Academic Project, his nonprofit, Armstead has raised over $2 million to assist young people in the Sacramento and Bay Area who require extensive academic support.

Armstead, a 30-year-old Sacramento, California native, studied at the University of Oregon. He totaled 87 tackles, four sacks, 10.0 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and two passes defensed in 39 games with the Ducks. 2014, as a junior,Armstead participated in 13 games and recorded 46 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble. He was named an honorable mention All-Pac 12 selection.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Allen (6-2, 209) in the sixth round (201st overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft. Over the course of his eight-year NFL career, he has played in 15 games (nine starts) and completed 149 of his 263 passing attempts for 1,611 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Jacksonvilles (2016), Los Angeles Rams (2017–18), Denver Broncos (2019), Cincinnati Bengals (2020–2022), and San Francisco 49ers (2023). After joining San Francisco as a free agent, Allen played the whole 2023 season on the team’s active roster.

Born in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Allen, 31, played at the University of Arkansas. There, he saw action in 42 games (38 starts) and completed 583 of his 1,016 passing attempts for 7,463 yards and 64 touchdowns through the air. He also ran 135 times for 133 yards and four scores on the ground. At the end of his college career, he had the third-most throwing yards (7,463) and the second-most completions (583) among all Razorbacks.

The 49ers first chose McKivitz (6-6, 301) in the fifth round (153rd overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. With the team, McKivitz has made 45 appearances (22 starts) over the last four years (2020–23). Additionally, he has made eight postseason appearances with San Francisco, including three starts. 2023 saw McKivitz launch all With the team, he played in 17 regular season games, 3 postseason games, and helped the offense finish tied for the most running touchdowns (27) in the NFL and third in rushing yards per game (140.5).

McKivitz, a 26-year-old from Jacobsburg, Ohio, played five years of collegiate ball at West Virginia University, appearing in 50 games (47 starts). McKivitz won the Big 12 Conference Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year award as a senior in 2019.

Odum (6-1, 202) made his NFL debut on May 1, 2018, when he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts. He played in 93 games (10 starts) throughout his six-year tenure with the Colts (2018–21) and the San Francisco 49ers (2022–23), recording 108 tackles, three interceptions, five passes defensed, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. In addition, he has made nine postseason appearances and added two tackles. Odum has twice led the NFL in tackles on special teams.

AP First-Team All-Pro awards in 2020 and AP Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2022 throughout his career (2020 & 2022). Odum played in 11 games in 2023, recording two defensive tackles and tying for the team lead in special teams tackles (10). In addition, he played in all three postseason games and added one special teams tackle.

Odum, a 30-year-old native of Millington, Tennessee, spent five years (2013–17) as a student at the University of Central Arkansas, where he recorded 350 tackles, 13 passes defensed, 6.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and two interceptions (one of which was returned for a touchdown) in 48 games (39 starts).