49ers keep core special teams ace around on a 2-year deal
By Peter Panacy
The 49ers aren't letting George Odum go in NFL free agency, and he'll be back with the Niners on a two-year deal.
The San Francisco 49ers were fortunate to not suffer a large amount of injuries last season.
However, one that did bite them pretty heavily in the second half of the year was veteran safety George Odum, whose torn biceps forced him to miss six regular-season games and one playoff bout, ultimately returning on Jan. 20 in time for the Niners' push through the NFC Championship game and into the Super Bowl.
While Odum wasn't a defensive starter, his absence on special teams was certainly felt, and San Francisco suffered a noticeable drop in efficiency in this crucial third phase of the game.
Remember that the 49ers dropped from #15 to #25 DVOA in 2023. The loss of George Odum down the stretch was a contributing factor. Returning to at least the middle of the pack on ST is key for 2024 and beyond, hence the Odum extension
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) March 12, 2024
Hopefully at 100 percent now, the 49ers recognized Odum's value to special teams and didn't want the pending free agent to stay on the open market for long.
49ers ink George Odum to a new 2-year deal in NFL free agency
It's unclear how much interest other teams had in Odum at the start of the league's "legal tampering" period, which began on March 11.
But the Niners only waited a day to ensure they re-signed one of their best special teams contributors from the previous two seasons. According to The Athletic's Matt Barrows, it's a two-year deal worth up to $10.8 million:
49ers and safety/special teamer George Odum agreed to a two-year extension that keeps Odum in SF through the 2026 season. It's worth as much as $10.8M. Deal locks in SF's top special teamer and gives them depth at S.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 12, 2024
Related story: 49ers free agency tracker 2024: Signings, departures and live updates
Odum, 30 years old, was a first-team All-Pro with the Indianapolis Colts back in 2020 and was named to a second-team All-Pro group in 2022 with San Francisco. During his 49ers tenure, he appeared in 28 regular-season games and had 34 tackles, one pass broken up and an interception.
However, it'll be Odum's work on special teams that'll count the most, and the Niners hope he can replicate those efforts over the next two seasons.
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