49ers Sign Former Steelers Punter Corliss Waitman

Waitman, 30, will replace veteran Thomas Morstead, 40, as the team's new punter for the 2026 season.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 10:55pm by Ben Kaplan

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The San Francisco 49ers have signed former Pittsburgh Steelers punter Corliss Waitman to a contract, replacing the 40-year-old Thomas Morstead who handled punting duties for the team last season. Waitman, 30, is a left-footed punter who ranked 27th in the NFL in gross average and 17th in net average in 2025. The 49ers are looking to get younger and more productive at the punter position after Morstead, one of the top punters in NFL history, struggled at times in his debut season with the team in 2025.

Why it matters

The 49ers are making a change at punter as they look to improve their special teams unit, which was inconsistent in 2025. Waitman is expected to provide a boost in net punting average and field position, areas where the 49ers struggled last season. The move also signals the team is ready to move on from the veteran Morstead and get younger at the position.

The details

Waitman, who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2020, has spent time with five different teams in his five-year career, including three stints with the Steelers. In 2025, he ranked 27th in the NFL in gross punting average (45.5 yards) and 17th in net average (41.7 yards). In comparison, Morstead ranked 31st in gross average (43.6 yards) and 32nd in net average (36.8 yards) for the 49ers last season. Waitman also placed 41.9% of his punts inside the 20-yard line, ranking 13th in the league, while Morstead had 50% of his punts downed inside the 20, matching the third-highest percentage in the NFL.

  • The 49ers signed Waitman on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
  • Morstead, 40, was the 49ers' punter in 2025.

The players

Corliss Waitman

A 30-year-old left-footed punter who has spent time with five different NFL teams, including three stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Thomas Morstead

A 40-year-old veteran punter who is 15th in NFL history with a career average of 46.7 yards per punt, but struggled at times in his debut season with the 49ers in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Guys every year get more talented. And I'm not getting more talented as I get older. … For a lot of my career, I felt like I was the best (punter) in the world. So it's cool to be hunting guys that are the top guys now.”

— Thomas Morstead (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The 49ers will look for Waitman to provide a boost to their special teams unit in 2026 as they aim to improve field position and net punting average.

The takeaway

The 49ers are making a proactive move to get younger and more productive at the punter position, signaling they are ready to move on from the veteran Morstead and entrust the role to the 30-year-old Waitman, who has shown the ability to pin opponents deep in their own territory.