Why Did the 49ers Replace Their Sixth-Year Punter With Thomas Morstead?
The 49ers had one of the worst special teams units in the NFL last season. Some of that was due to major injuries to their main special-teams contributors. However, the unit’s overall performance didn’t help San Francisco in any way. After coming back from an ankle sprain, kicker Jake Moody was a liability, meanwhile, punter Mitch Wishnowsky was sidelined for eight games with a back injury. As a result, special teams coordinator Brian Schneider was fired, and former Jets special teams coordinator Brant Boyer was hired to take over those duties.
Wishnowsky was a former fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft for the 49ers. He’s been a solid punter in his career with the team and reached two Super Bowls with San Francisco. Wishnowsky was always a reliable punter for the 49ers due to his placement and ability to pin the ball inside the 20-yard line. However, back issues last season cut his 2024 campaign short, and with his recent release, San Francisco could be worried about his future in the NFL. Signing 39-year-old former Super Bowl champion punter Thomas Morstead definitely won’t be their long-term solution at the position, but he should make an immediate impact.
Last season, Morstead averaged 47.2 yards per punt with a net average of 40.9 yards. San Francisco’s offense didn’t sustain long drives in 2024, and they struggled to pin the opposing team deep into their territory. The 49ers are banking on Morstead’s strong leg remaining consistent as he hit the third-longest punt in the NFL last season at 75 yards. Boyer and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, I would think, had an influence on targeting Morstead as both of them coached him the past two seasons.
The 49ers are heading in a different direction when it comes to special teams. Earlier this offseason, the team already replaced long-snapper Taybor Pepper with long-time Texans long-snapper Jon Weeks. San Francisco seems to be eyeing veteran special-teams players who are trustworthy and reliable. It will be intriguing if they decide to replace Moody with kicker Greg Joseph, whom they signed earlier this month to compete with Moody in training camp.
