The 49ers have had special teams issues for a few seasons, so they are ensuring they address that weakness this offseason.
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Veteran defensive back and special teams standout Siran Neal has agreed to a two-year contract with the 49ers, a source confirmed to NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco and Jennifer Lee Chan on Monday night.
Special teams ace/DB Siran Neal is finalizing a 2-year deal with San Francisco 49ers tonight, per source. pic.twitter.com/4IbCLbIjo7
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 18, 2025
Neal, a seven-year NFL veteran, is listed as a defensive back, but he primarily played special teams with the Buffalo Bills and, most recently, the Miami Dolphins.
Per Pro Football Reference, Neal played 6 percent of the Dolphins' defensive snaps last season but appeared on 84 percent of their special teams plays.
During his seven-year career, Neal has appeared on 2,086 special-teams snaps and only 625 defensive snaps.
Special teams shiftin’ momentum 👊
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 10, 2024
RT to #ProBowlVote Siran Neal pic.twitter.com/rIdJl7ZiV0
The 49ers need to improve their special teams unit under new coordinator Brant Boyer, and they're hoping Neal can play a big part in that in 2025.
