49ers Sign OL Zachary Thomas To Reserve/Future Contract

The San Francisco 49ers announced they have signed OL Zachary Thomas to a Reserve/Future contract.

Thomas (6-5, 308) was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round (186th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Throughout his four-year NFL career, Thomas has spent time with the Bears (2022), Los Angeles Rams (2022-24), New England Patriots (2024), Houston Texans (2024-25) and Indianapolis Colts (2025). In 2025, Thomas signed to the Texans practice squad on December 16 and was later released on December 30.

A 27-year-old native of Carlsbad, CA Thomas attended San Diego State University (2016-21) where he appeared in 49 games (31 starts) on the offensive line.

The #49ers today announced they have signed OL Zachary Thomas to a Reserve/Future contract.

📰: https://t.co/f6AiDAMjhk pic.twitter.com/UWXbf0QiyA

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 21, 2026

More San Francisco 49ers content from Sactown Sports

San Francisco general manager John Lynch does not expect embattled wideout Brandon Aiyuk to return to the 49ers, declaring Wednesday that “it’s safe to say that he’s played his last snap with the Niners.”

Aiyuk, 27, missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL and MCL in October of 2024.

He was initially expected to return this October, but by November, The Athletic reported he had missed multiple team meetings and displayed a “lack of communication” that led the 49ers to void the guaranteed money in Aiyuk’s 2026 contract, calling his absences a failure to fulfill his contractual obligations.

Brandon Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million deal before the 2024 season. By voiding future guarantees, San Francisco can recover a 2026 option bonus of $24.935 million, $1.215 million in base salary for 2026, a $100,000 workout bonus and roster bonuses of $750,000 per game, according to The Athletic.

“The plan in terms of the transaction that will come in due time,” Lynch said at his season-ending press conference on Wednesday, four days after the 49ers were dismantled 41-6 by the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round of the playoffs.

49ers GM: ‘Safe to say’ Brandon Aiyuk won’t be back

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Offseason Schedule

• Sunday, February 8 – Super Bowl LX

• Tuesday, February 17 – Tuesday, March 3 – Franchise/Transition Tag window

• Monday, February 23 – Monday, March 2 – NFL Scouting Combine (Indianapolis)

• Monday, March 9 – Wednesday, March 11 – Free agent negotiation period

• Wednesday, March 11 – 2026 League Year begins & free agency opens

• Sunday, March 29 – Wednesday, April 1 – NFL Annual League Meeting

• Thursday, April 23 – Saturday, April 25 – 2026 NFL Draft

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