San Francisco 49ers OL Jon Feliciano retires–but leaves door open for return

San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Jon Feliciano announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday afternoon.

BY FIELD LEVEL MEDIA

Feb 20, 2025, 2:02 PM Updated: 2:03 pm

Watch: 49ers breakdown halfway through pre-season | Hard Rock Sports Round Table | 33 mins

San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Jon Feliciano announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday, however he left the door open for a return late in the upcoming season if needed.

Feliciano, 33, spent the 2024 season on injured reserve after undergoing knee surgery.

“After months of weighing my options, I realized I had to leave the game. The fire is still there, but I know I can’t last a full season and can’t bring myself to let people down,” Feliciano wrote on social media.

Jon Feliciano retiring, but leaves door open for return for a playoff run. https://t.co/GqdBRPEauj

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 20, 2025

“Being on a team and unable to help out your boys is rough. That being said, Buffalo or SF, I’ll be ready for a playoff run in December if you need me.”

Feliciano spent three seasons with the Bills (2019-21).

“Buffalo is a unique place I will always call home,” he wrote. “Thank you Buffalo for all the love you showed me, my family, and support staff.”

Feliciano has played in 113 games (61 starts) with the then-Oakland Raiders (2015-18), Bills, New York Giants (2022) and 49ers. He was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Miami.

–Field Level Media

More San Francisco 49ers coverage from Sactown Sports

The San Francisco 49ers are the latest NFL team to explore selling up to 10 percent of the franchise, according to multiple media reports on Wednesday.

The 49ers are valued at $6.86 billion — fifth in the league — according to Sportico’s most recent rankings. Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that the franchise could have a valuation of more than $9 billion — making it one of the most expensive sports teams in the world.

The NFL approved a policy in August that allows private equity firms to buy up to 10 percent of teams, leading some franchises to seek new limited partnerships, which is boosting valuations.

The San Francisco 49ers, through a spokesperson, declined to comment on the reports. Jed York, the team’s chief executive officer, became the franchise’s principal owner in March 2024.

The team’s business arm, 49ers Enterprises, also has invested in a soccer club and reportedly is pursuing purchase of another. 49ers Enterprises in 2023 bought full control of Leeds United of the English Championship, a division below the Premier League. Rangers FC, a Scottish soccer club, is now on its radar, according to a Sportico report.