Trent Williams, arguably one of the most indispensable players on the San Francisco 49ers roster, has announced he will be returning for the 2023 season after contemplating retirement.
The official declaration by the All-Pro left tackle that he would be returning included a couple of extra cherries on top.
“Yeah, for sure. Next year, the year after. I’m under contract until I’m 39 years old.”
Trent Williams on retuning for the 2023 season (H/T NFL)
This is exactly the type of comfort quote 49ers fans will absolutely cherish while likely still processing all the bizarre setbacks that went down in San Francisco’s crushing loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship game.
Williams returning is also something head coach Kyle Shanahan fully expected to hear, recently saying, “I’d be really surprised if Trent wasn’t fired up in a few weeks.”
The 34-year-old Williams previously expressed understandable exhaustion following another deep postseason run by the 49ers that fell short.
In doing so, Williams brought the funny — intentional or not — take on life after football.
“It’s a long season. And having two long seasons back-to-back, it does get pretty grueling for a 34-year-old guy like myself. I’ll be 35 when the [2023] season starts. You do kind of think about what’s life like after football. I’ve done this every year of my life since the second grade.”
Trent Williams on potential retirement, via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle
There’s just something endlessly funny about an 8-year-old Trent Williams finishing up his season in Pop Warner and then pondering about what he might do next if he stopped playing football.
It’s also an early, telltale sign of a destined football lifer.
That’s precisely what the 49ers have been lucky enough to have for three outstanding seasons. Now, officially, the Niners faithful will be gifted a fourth. Perhaps now the 49ers’ brass can shift their full attention to getting Nick Bosa locked up to a long-term contract.