Center Alex Mack is one-and-done with the 49ers, meaning Trey Lance will be fielding snaps from someone else in 2022 and beyond.
Mack, after suspicions intensified in recent months, is retiring from a 13-year NFL career out of Cal, according to national reporter Mike Silver.
In another 49ers retirement, they are signing running back Frank Gore to a ceremonial one-day contract. Also, top draft Drake Jackson signed his $5.8 million deal that includes $3 million guaranteed, ESPN reported.
While Mack steered clear of the 49ers’ offseason program the past six weeks, coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch dropped hints that Mack was leaning toward retirement but left it up to him to declare his intentions.
Mack nor the 49ers have yet to confirm his exit.
“I’ve talked to him here and there. I’ve got a good idea,” Shanahan said last week of Mack’s plans. “I’ve been in touch with him throughout the offseason, through his wedding, through his honeymoon. He’s in some other country right now, but I’ve got a pretty good idea of what he’s doing.”
Mack restructured his contract to clear $4 million in salary cap room, dropping his salary from $5 million and $3.35 million the next two seasons to roughly $1 million those years, according to ESPN.
What will the 49ers do to replace a savvy center who made the Pro Bowl last season for the seventh time in his career?
Jake Brendel has been taking first-team reps during organized team activities. If the 49ers are considering sliding Daniel Brunskill over from right guard, that has not been evident during the two open OTAs to media, which Brunskill has watched in street clothes while dealing with knee tendonitis.
The team could sign a veteran free agent such as J.C. Tretter, who replaced Mack on the Cleveland Browns once Mack joined Shanahan and the Atlanta Falcons from 2016-20.
A year ago, center Weston Richburg retired after an injury-shortened tenure.
