Coordinator Raheem Morris is expected to add some of his own wrinkles to the San Francisco 49ers defense entering 2026, which could easily involve luring in some of his former players from the Atlanta Falcons, his previous employer.
The expectation would be most of these would-be additions would aid the defensive side of the ball, of course.
But, having served as Atlanta's head coach, Morris wouldn't shy away from looking at the other two phases of the game either.
So, while it's nowhere near as big a need as the many the Niners have entering this season, perhaps the coordinator's first year in the Bay Area involves bringing back a specialist who once called San Francisco home.
Raheem Morris might want Bradley Pinion to return to 49ers
Remember punter Bradley Pinion?
In case you didn't, he got his start with the 49ers back in 2015 as a fifth-round draft choice out of Clemson, spending his first four years in the red and gold before departing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agenncy in 2019.
Pinion spent the last four seasons in Atlanta, averaging 40.7 yards per punt and even serving as a kickoff specialst during that span. And while you won't see Pinion's name attached to any sort of lofty awards, his pending free-agent availability coincides with the Niners' incumbent punter, Thomas Morstead, not only being on the wrong side of 40 years old but also a free agent, too.
While a punter's age isn't quite as important to monitor as, let's say, that of a running back or wide receiver, Pinion turning age 32 this offseason might be worth considering.
Now, it might not be Morris' call to make, especially if special teams coordinator Brant Boyer already has his preference for punting highlighted. And that could even include welcoming Morstead back on another one-year deal.
But, if Morstead is going to be shown the door and/or retires, asking Pinion if he'd like to travel back out west to rejoin the squad that originally drafted him wouldn't be the worst idea ever.