Will any 49ers player retire after 2022 NFL season?

The 49ers have been shocked by sudden retirements before, but are there any Niners on the verge of retirement heading into 2023?

Rewinding back to the early months of 2015 before the San Francisco 49ers’ offseason programs began.

Perennial All-Pro Patrick Willis’ shocking retirement announcement.

Yes, that hurt. A lot. And it also hurt when stalwart left tackle Joe Staley decided to hang up his cleats not long after the 2020 NFL Draft, too. Even a year ago, Pro Bowl center Alex Mack shook things up for the Niners by announcing his own retirement following one productive year in the Bay Area.

So, understandably, San Francisco fans are always a little leery every offseason when it comes to player retirements.

Are there going to be any retirements heading into 2023?

Trent Williams says he won’t retire, will rejoin 49ers in 2023

During that 2020 draft, the 49ers engineered a trade for perennial Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams. And, as weird as it is to say, Williams proved to be an upgrade over the retiring Staley, who kept quiet about his decision until the Williams deal was complete.

Now, following yet another excellent campaign as the Niners’ left tackle, the 34-year-old Williams was reportedly considering retirement.

Only to assuredly change his mind against it, telling NFL.com, “yeah, for sure,” when asked if he was going to return.

Williams enjoying a hefty contract until he turns 39 years old is probably a good motivator.

Tashaun Gipson is considering retirement, would only return if it was with 49ers

Starting safety Tashaun Gipson, who recorded five interceptions and eight pass breakups in a surprise role after being signed off the street to fill in for an injured Jimmie Ward just after the preseason, is another who is on the verge of retirement.

However, if he does return, it’ll be with San Francisco and no place else.

Gipson told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan the following:

"I’m going to decompress and see where I’m at. This was only supposed to be until Jimmie Ward got healthy, but I’m so grateful. I couldn’t have asked for a better situation."

Read More: 49ers would hate to see Tashaun Gipson retire this offseason

The 32-year-old Gipson would leave a major void in the secondary if he departs, especially considering Ward isn’t likely to return either.

Robbie Gould still has goals, perhaps not with 49ers, though

The 49ers probably have to be happy to finally get out from under that substantial four-year, $19 million deal they signed with veteran kicker Robbie Gould way back in 2019.

Spending that kind of money on a specialist is awfully rare, although Gould was money during the postseason. The Niners can be happy with that, at least.

At 40 years old, though, San Francisco would have to think twice about re-signing him. The team would prefer someone cheaper (and probably younger), yet that doesn’t mean Gould is ready to retire just yet, telling NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco the following:

"I’m nowhere near retiring. I got a lot left to do from a career perspective, No. 1 being winning a Super Bowl.And, two, I’m pretty close to a lot of milestones I think would be pretty neat to be able to accomplish."

It’s unclear whether or not the 49ers would entertain bringing Gould back, but he won’t be surprising anyone with a sudden retirement announcement anytime soon.