49ers star and future Hall of Famer makes ‘scary’ retirement decision amid $50m contract

It appears as though the end is near for Trent Williams’ career in the NFL.

The 37-year-old offensive tackle has enjoyed a 15-year career in the league, split between the Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers.

Getty

Having penned a two-year, $50 million deal back in April, though – $37 million guaranteed – all signs point to this being his final contract in the NFL.

Under contract through 2027, Williams will be 39 when he likely retires, and the 12-time Pro Bowler has admitted that thinking about the twilight years of his career are “scary.”

“It’s scary. It’s scary,” Williams said on Wednesday about bowing out in 2027.

“I’m toying between the idea of going until I can’t no more and just leaving while I’ve still got some good product left and I get ran out of the league.

Williams further expressed that he wants to spend more time with his family, and his children, with his eldest having been born just a few months before he was drafted with the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

“As a father, you feel like, ‘Dang, I kind of missed her whole life until adulthood,’” he continued. “When she goes off to college in a couple of years, I want to be there and be accessible.

“I don’t want to be that father that shadows a kid. I want to be close. I don’t want to be somewhere at a joint practice when it’s time for her to move in to school, and stuff like that.

“Little stuff I have to think about.”

Still chasing a ring

Williams was much quicker to sign this new contract in April, having sat out of training camp in 2024 amid protest.

“I think it was a load off everybody’s shoulders, but honestly this time around wasn’t that stressful,” he said.

Getty

Getty

“Everything was kind of how I expected it to go. Obviously, there was pushback a little bit on both sides, but for the most part we both knew what we wanted to do.

“We’re seeing things pretty similar for the future, so it was pretty easy to get through it.”

When his career is all said and done, the five-time All-Pro will inevitably be named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and may go down as one of the greatest players of all time at his position, if not the greatest.

But one thing still evades him – a Super Bowl ring.

“Hall of Famer, obviously, for what he’s done for our team and for myself, and just as a young guy, coming into the league and having his leadership, I’m extremely grateful for that guy,” quarterback Brock Purdy said back in April.

“More than anything, I know he’s got a lot left in his tank. … I know he’s going to have a chip on his shoulder and to go out and get a ring for him, his résumé and his career, I want to help him do that.”

For now, at least, Williams has a new challenge awaiting him in the NFC West in 2026 – stopping all 6-foot-4, 272 pounds of Myles Garrett getting to $265 million signal caller Purdy following his blockbuster switch to the Los Angeles Rams.

“Obviously, I can’t tell the future. I don’t know,” Williams added of the possibility he plays beyond 2027.

“I’m still a competitor. It’s hard not to compete when you can, so we’ll see.”

Stay up to date on all things NFL across our talkSPORT platforms – subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest news, opinion, exclusive interviews and our daily unfiltered, unscripted show ‘The S* Word, from 8am ET.