Santa Clara, CA. The San Francisco 49ers have made a quiet but important move to reshape their special teams unit heading into the 2026 season.
With veteran punter Thomas Morstead no longer in the team’s plans, San Francisco moved quickly to secure a new leg for the position.
The 49ers and Corliss Waitman have agreed to a contract, bringing the experienced specialist to Santa Clara after an impressive season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Waitman, a former Pro Bowl punter, enters his seventh NFL season after originally entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of South Alabama in 2020.
Over the years, he has built a reputation as a reliable field-position weapon across several teams including the Steelers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots.
His most recent campaign showcased exactly why San Francisco targeted him. During the 2025 season, Waitman appeared in all 17 games, recording 2,823 punting yards on 62 attempts, averaging 45.5 yards per punt.
Perhaps more importantly for a team that values field position, Waitman also placed 26 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, demonstrating the type of precision that special teams coordinators covet.
“Every team I’ve played for has helped shape my journey, but joining a contender like the 49ers is a huge opportunity. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to help this team win.”
For San Francisco, the signing represents more than just replacing Morstead. The organization is looking to improve overall field position and consistency on special teams as they continue building a roster capable of competing deep into the postseason.
With Waitman now in the fold, the 49ers believe they have found the next reliable anchor for their punting unit heading into the 2026 campaign.