While the San Francisco 49ers have bigger fish to fry than figuring out who will return kicks and punts next season, it’s something they are going to have to figure out.
Wide receiver Skyy Moore was arguably the Niners' best returner since Tedd Ginn Jr., and the special teams unit as a whole fared much better last season under special teams coordinator Brant Boyer.
The Niners have to avoid a regression this season, which is why they should bring in a little competition. As things currently stand, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins seem like two of the likelier candidates to handle return duties with Cowing being the favorite.
Still, there are some proven returners out there who would at least provide a little more juice to the competition and would help the roster in other ways.
RB Khalil Herbert
While Khalil Herbert is not the same rusher that he was early in his career with the Chicago Bears, he still has had success as a returner. He returned 21 kicks as a rookie and averaged 24 yards per return.
In recent years, he’s only handled a few kick returns, but in 2024 he averaged 31 yards per return on four returns, and last season he returned one kick for 22 yards.
He’d also give the Niners a bit more depth at running back, which might not be a bad idea, given the relative inexperience of that group behind Christian McCaffrey.
RB Antonio Gibson
Another intriguing option would be Antonio Gibson. He rushed for over 1,000 yards back in 2021, but he only played in five games last year. He returned 12 kicks last season and took one to the house. In his career he’s averaged 25 yards per kick return.
Antonio Gibson is an intriguing option if 49ers bring in another RB for camp pic.twitter.com/uQ7IXke64n
— Brad (@Graham_SFN) July 22, 2026
Like Herbert, he’d also add a little more depth to the running back room even if he may not be the player he once was.
WR Deebo Samuel
Yes, a reunion between Deebo Samuel and the 49ers feels unlikely, even thought it’s been talked about a lot lately. Still, if Deebo was willing to take a cheap contract and was a depth wide receiver option who also was a returner on special teams, he could be a useful player.
Whether his pride would allow him to do that is another story, but he can be explosive with the ball in his hands, and opposing teams would have to be a little afraid of him as a returner.
We know special teams has never been head coach Kyle Shanahan’s highest priority, but if he decides San Francisco needs to step up the return game, any of these guys would be good options.
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