DeForest Buckner is officially coming home to the San Francisco 49ers, and George Kittle wasted zero time letting the world know exactly how hyped he is about it.
“DEFOOOOO THE BOYS ARE BACK”
Shortly after the news broke that the 49ers snagged Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts for a 2027 fourth-round pick, Kittle hit X with a classic throwback picture. It was him, Buckner, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk, all smiles. The caption? “DEFOOOOO THE BOYS ARE BACK.” You can feel the energy from that post. This isn’t just a random reunion; it’s a squad getting back together. Kittle and Buckner spent years together in San Francisco, from 2017 to 2019, with Juszczyk right there with them through it all. Honestly, it feels like this has been building, especially after Juszczyk himself was out there on Instagram pushing for a Buckner reunion recently. Talk about manifesting a trade!
A Dominant Force Returns Just When They Need Him
So, what kind of player is the 49ers getting back? Buckner, originally their 2016 first-round pick, spent his first four seasons tearing it up in San Francisco before they sent him to Indy for a 2020 first-round pick. Over 11 seasons, this dude has put up serious numbers: 75.5 career sacks, 101 tackles for loss, and a whopping 196 quarterback hits. And get this: at 32 years old, he is still producing at an All-Pro level. This season alone, he’s got four sacks and 20 pressures in just seven games. That’s big-time production. The timing for this move couldn’t be better for the 49ers, either. They’re battling some serious injuries on the inside of that defensive line, with tackles CJ West and Alfred Collins both sidelined. Buckner is gonna slot right in, likely lining up next to Osa Odighizuwa and rookie Gracen Halton. Plus, Nick Bosa is due back from a calf strain right after their bye week. Imagine that D-line once Bosa is back too. Talk about a nightmare for opposing QBs!
The 49ers are on their bye week for Week 8, but get ready. Buckner is set to make his official return to the red and gold in Week 9, when they host the Las Vegas Raiders at Levi’s Stadium. That game is gonna be absolutely wild. With Buckner back and Bosa returning soon, this defense is about to get a massive shot in the arm. The hype from Kittle is real, and for good reason. This is a game-changer for that defensive front.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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