DeForest Buckner is back in red and gold, returning to the San Francisco 49ers six years after his departure to the Indianapolis Colts, 49ers.com reported.
While his return was long anticipated by former teammates, his presence is now expected to provide an immediate tactical shift for the defensive front.
The defensive lineman takes the field at Levi’s® Stadium on Sunday as the team hosts the Las Vegas Raiders. Selected seventh overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, Buckner spent his first four seasons in The Bay.
Coming Home to The Bay
“I feel at home,” Buckner said, according to 49ers.com. “Obviously, being drafted here and everything, I still got a bunch of the guys that I played with here, and some of the coaches and everything. So, feels great.”
During his initial stint, Buckner helped San Francisco reach Super Bowl LIV following the 2019 season. Over the years, players like Nick Bosa maintained contact, occasionally nudging him to return.
DeForest Buckner speaks to the media. https://t.co/mi8ke5aD4P
“He would text me here and there like, ‘Come back. I think it’s time to come back home,'” Buckner said, as reported by 49ers.com. “Him, George, Juice, Fred, all those guys… And obviously, I felt the love.”
Locker Room Reactions
Bosa welcomed the reunion by highlighting Buckner’s enduring impact on the franchise. “He’s the blueprint, and now we get to watch it in person,” Bosa said.
Tight end George Kittle noted that he had campaigned for the front office to acquire Buckner at trade deadlines for years. “I think I’ve said Defo’s name for the last four years going into the trade deadline,” Kittle joked to 49ers.com.
Kittle added that Buckner is one of the best leaders he has worked with, noting his ability to bond with every position group. Kittle emphasized that Buckner’s arrival simplifies the jobs of Osa, Keion, and Bosa because opposing offenses cannot afford to leave him in one-on-one situations, as he is capable of beating blockers and commanding double teams.
Linebacker Fred Warner recalled learning standard-setting habits from Buckner during his own rookie season. “That was the guy when I came in as a rookie,” Warner said. “He was everything that we were looking for as a 49er.”
BREAKING: Colts trade DeForest Buckner back to San Francisco 49ers for fourth-round pick https://t.co/T4ieUSZBno
Unfinished Business
Buckner steps into a defensive line featuring younger athletes eager for veteran guidance. After watching film of the defense during the Bye Week, he noted, “They have a lot of potential.” He invited teammates to use him as an open resource, telling them, “I’m an open book,” and stating, “I just want them to continue to get better each and every week.”
With a matchup against the Raiders approaching, Buckner and his returning teammates from the 2019 Super Bowl team view the homecoming through a singular lens. “We were talking and everything, and we were just saying ‘yeah, there’s unfinished business,'” Buckner said.
