49ers have 5-year extension with LB Warner
The San Francisco 49ers and all-pro linebacker Fred Warner reached an agreement on a fiveyear extension, ESPN and NFL Network reported Wednesday.
The deal is worth US$95 million with $40.5 million in guaranteed money, per the reports.
Warner, 24, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The extension keeps him under contract in San Francisco through the 2026 season.
Warner earned first team all-pro honours and was named to the Pro Bowl after the 2020 season. He recorded 125 tackles to go with two interceptions, six passes defended, a sack and seven quarterback hits. He also had a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Warner has played in and started all 48 games since the Niners selected him in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft out of BYU. He played 94 per cent of the snaps on defence in 2020.
STEELERS' WILLIAMS RETIRES
Linebacker Vince Williams is retiring from the NFL after an eightyear career spent entirely with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Williams, 31, played in 121 of a possible 128 regular-season games across those eight seasons.
“Vince Williams notified us today that he will retire from the game of football,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said Wednesday in a statement. “We respect his decision and want to thank him for his time with us as he consistently showed great character and leadership in addition to his contributions on the field. We wish Vince and his family all the best.”
An inside linebacker, Williams was a sixth-round draft pick in 2013 out of Florida State and broke into the starting lineup as a rookie after other players suffered injuries.
Williams made 69 starts in his career and amassed 479 total tackles, 50 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and six fumble recoveries.
He started in all 14 games he played for Pittsburgh in 2020 and projected as a starter for 2021 as well. He had 70 tackles last season and tied for sixth in the NFL with 14 stops for losses.
FORMER PLAYER, COACH SHOFNER DIES AT 85
Former player and coach Jim Shofner has died. He was 85. Shofner was a former star player as well as head coach.
After starring on both sides of the ball as a running back and defensive back at Texas Christian University in the mid-1950s, Shofner played six seasons with the Cleveland Browns (1958-63) and had 20 interceptions in 76 games (57 starts). He had a career-best eight interceptions in 1960.
BOWDEN DIAGNOSED WITH TERMINAL MEDICAL ISSUE
Bobby Bowden has been diagnosed with a terminal medical condition, the Hall-of-Fame coach announced in a statement through Florida State on Wednesday.
The Bowden family asked for privacy as the 91-year-old deals with his health. Bowden tested positive for COVID-19 in October and also was hospitalized in June for five days.
Bowden served as the coach at West Virginia from 1970-75 before joining the Florida State program in 1976. He posted a 315-98-4 record with the Seminoles and guided the school to two national titles (1993, 1999).