The San Francisco 49ers made a significant move in signing veteran punter Thomas Morstead to compete for the starting job in training camp. Morstead, who has been in the NFL since 2009 after being drafted by the New Orleans Saints, spent the 2024 season with the New York Jets. However, he was released by the Jets on May 13 after the team signed Kai Kroeger.
As Morstead joined the 49ers, he expressed his gratitude with a simple four-word response, saying, “Grateful is an understatement!” The 39-year-old punter was due a base salary of $2.1 million with no guaranteed money and was set to count $3.05 million on the salary cap this season in the final year of his contract with the Jets.
Morstead will now compete with Mitch Wishnowsky for the punter job with the 49ers. Wishnowsky has been the team’s punter since 2019, but in 2024, he faced injuries and had a 45.18 average in 22 punts. On the other hand, Morstead boasts a successful career with stints at the Saints, Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and Miami Dolphins. In 2024, he averaged an impressive 47.2 yards per punt with the Jets.
The decision to release Morstead from the Jets left him feeling disappointed, as he expressed on Instagram. Despite the disappointment, he thanked the Jets, coaches, teammates, and fans for the experience. Fortunately, Morstead found a new opportunity with the 49ers, where he will now compete for the punting job.
The signing of Morstead adds depth and competition to the 49ers’ special teams unit and brings a wealth of experience to the team. With his proven track record in the league, Morstead will look to make a significant impact and contribute to the success of the 49ers in the upcoming season.
