49ers Insider Warns of 'Big-Time Recognizable' Star Exodus by 2027

A veteran reporter says several core players who defined the 49ers' success could be gone in 5 years.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 11:55pm by Ben Kaplan

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A longtime 49ers beat reporter is warning that several of the team's most recognizable and instrumental veteran players from the past 5-8 years may no longer be with the organization by the 2027 season. The reporter, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, did not name specific players but said a significant transition is likely coming for the 49ers' roster, even as the team focuses on addressing immediate needs for the 2026 season.

Why it matters

The 49ers have built a successful team around a core group of veteran stars, but as those players age and the team faces financial pressures, changes to that core group appear inevitable. This could mark the end of an era for the franchise and force them to rebuild around a new generation of players.

The details

Maiocco, who has covered the 49ers for years, said he expects 'some of the big time recognizable names, the guys who have been instrumental in the 49ers success through the past 5, 6, 7, 8 years' to be 'moving on' by the 2027 season. He framed this as an expectation rather than reporting on specific decisions, noting the 49ers' current focus is on addressing immediate roster needs for the 2026 season after a 12-5 campaign in 2025 that fell short of expectations.

  • Maiocco's comments were made in March 2026.
  • He is predicting changes to the 49ers' core roster by the 2027 season.

The players

Matt Maiocco

A veteran beat reporter who has covered the San Francisco 49ers franchise for years.

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What they’re saying

“I do think looking ahead a year, it's very well possible that some of the veteran guys — who they are I can't tell you — but I would think for 2027, it's very likely that some of the big time recognizable names, the guys who have been instrumental in the 49ers success through the past 5, 6, 7, 8 years, I think some of those guys will be moving on.”

— Matt Maiocco, 49ers Beat Reporter

What’s next

The 49ers' front office and coaching staff are currently focused on addressing the team's immediate needs and positioning them to contend again in 2026 after a 12-5 season in 2025 that fell short of expectations.

The takeaway

The 49ers' long-standing reliance on a familiar group of veteran stars is approaching a natural transition point, and the franchise may have to rebuild around a new generation of players in the coming years as some of their most recognizable faces depart.