Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has rejoined the San Francisco 49ers, just over six years after he left the team in free agency. Buckner, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020, stated that he requested a trade back to San Francisco, believing his and the team's best chance at winning a Super Bowl is together. "I stated it – that I wanted to come here," Buckner said. "I didn’t want to go anywhere else."
Buckner played for the 49ers from 2016 to 2019, during which time the team reached Super Bowl LIV. He was a first-team All-Pro selection in his first season with the Colts in 2020 and played in all but two games over his first four years in Indianapolis. However, his time with the Colts yielded only one playoff appearance.
His return to the 49ers reunites him with several former teammates, including Fred Warner, George Kittle, and Nick Bosa. "I know the standard here," Buckner said. "It’s very high. It’s Super Bowl or bust."
The 49ers had tried to replace Buckner after his departure, drafting Javon Kinlaw 14th overall in 2020 and signing Javon Hargrave. Both players faced injuries and the team has since acknowledged the difficulty in replacing Buckner's impact.
Buckner mentioned that his former teammates had encouraged him to return over the years. "They’d be like, ‘Come back home, bro. Come back home,’" he recalled. "I had my own things that I needed to do out in Indy. Lo and behold, I’m here."
With his return, Buckner feels there is "unfinished business" for the team. "Me coming back and everything like that, it’s great, a little nostalgic and things like that, but there’s still a job to do," he said. General Manager John Lynch is reportedly continuing to work the phones to improve the roster before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.