Offensive lineman Zach Thomas is officially on the move again after the 49ers announced his release on Friday, July 17, 2026. This move comes like a sudden snap, especially since Thomas had only signed a futures contract with the team back on January 21. That is barely six months from signing a deal to getting the chop, making this one of the quicker turnarounds in what has already been a whirlwind NFL career.
The NFL Grind is Real
Talk about a player who knows the grind: Thomas kicked off his pro journey as a sixth-round pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2022 draft. Getting drafted, especially in the later rounds, is a huge accomplishment, a testament to raw talent and hard work. But sticking in the league? That is a whole different beast. After his rookie year with the Bears in 2022, Thomas became a true NFL nomad. He moved on to the Los Angeles Rams, where he spent a good chunk of time from 2022 straight through 2024. Just when you might think he was settling in, 2024 also saw him suit up for the New England Patriots. Then, without skipping a beat, he landed with the Houston Texans for parts of both 2024 and 2025, before making another quick stop with the Indianapolis Colts in 2025.
A Whirlwind 2025 and Limited On-Field Chances
His 2025 season pretty much sums up the rollercoaster nature of life on the fringe of an NFL roster. He signed on with the Texans’ practice squad on December 16, aiming to make a late-season push or solidify a spot for the next year. But then, barely two weeks later, the team waived him on December 30. That is a brutal stretch for any player, getting picked up and then cut loose within days. Despite all those team changes, Thomas has managed to see the field. He has appeared in 17 regular-season games throughout his career, though he has never once started a game. A significant chunk of those appearances, 14 of them to be exact, came during the 2024 season. That means his other four stops combined for only three game appearances. When he was out there, he racked up 137 offensive snaps and contributed 58 snaps on special teams. Those numbers tell you about the limited windows of opportunity he has had, always fighting for a chance.
So here we are, already in mid-July, and Thomas is once again a free agent. For a player who is clearly committed to making it work, getting cut before training camp even really gets going is a tough blow. He has got to find a seventh NFL home now, and with camps just around the corner, time is ticking. It is a relentless league, but you gotta respect the hustle to keep chasing that dream.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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