“There’s a high standard of performance [playing for the 49ers]… You have to come to work with the expectation that the standard is what it is, and if you’re not going to match that, you’re not going to play here,” Eric Saubert once said. That has come true for him this offseason. He has departed from San Francisco to land in Seattle, the eighth team in his NFL career. However, his stint with the 49ers was never about catching highlight-reel touchdowns. Signed in 2024, Saubert was supposed to compete with Cam Latu for the blocking tight-end role. But Latu, a third-round pick in 2023, faced challenges and was eventually released by the 49ers. And then, just like that, Saubert became the next player in line.

Ideally, it would have been nice to retain him. You see, though George Kittle will remain the starter next season, Saubert seemed like the perfect backup. But in a league where everything revolves around cap space and performance metrics, farewells are common and so George Kittle knew how to let his teammates feel the love and respect that he holds for them.

The 49ers celebrated Eric Saubert on Instagram, posting a farewell tribute featuring the veteran tight end in his No. 82 Niners jersey. The post was labelled as “THANK YOU ERIC.” George Kittle joined in as he reshared the post on his IG story and wrote just five words: “Your light is my torch @sawbee85.” It was a simple yet powerful message, a testament to the impact Saubert had on his teammates.

Similarly, Kyle Juszczyk also has a message for the TE. “We’ll miss you soldier,” he wrote under the 49ers Instagram post.

In the one year Saubert spent with the 49ers, he started three games, caught 11 passes for 97 yards and a single touchdown and also was their blocking specialist. More importantly, he logged 302 special-teams snaps, proving his worth in a phase of the game that doesn’t always show up on stat sheets but is crucial for roster longevity.

For context, San Francisco’s offensive scheme under Kyle Shanahan thrives on tight ends who can do more than just catch. George Kittle himself has long been praised as one of the league’s best run-blocking tight ends. And Saubert provided crucial depth behind him. The Niners initially brought him in to compete with former third-round pick Cam Latu, who was cut after failing to meet expectations. Saubert won the job by default, proving that sometimes reliability trumps potential.

The 49ers’ decision to move on from Saubert likely stems from their recent three-year, $20.25 million signing of backup tight end Luke Farrell, who boasts stronger blocking credentials but might not be a better receiver. Still, George Kittle’s message suggests that Saubert’s impact won’t be forgotten anytime soon. But while Kittle was sending heartfelt farewells, his quarterback, Brock Purdy, was busy sending a different kind of message to his doubters.

Brock Purdy: The underdog who became San Francisco’s cornerstone

Purdy appeared in a new episode of the Built 4 More podcast and made it clear: The underdog mentality that has fueled his rise isn’t going anywhere. “My whole story has been just being overlooked, not good enough,” Purdy said, via 49ers WebZone. “And for me, deep down inside, I’m like, I know I can play and compete at this level, this level, this level. And so, high school, it was the case. And then I became a starter, and we went to the state championship, all that. But I got recruited very late.”

It’s a familiar story by now. The last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, dubbed Mr. Irrelevant, defied the odds by stepping in for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo and leading the 49ers to an NFC Championship appearance. In 2024, he proved it wasn’t a fluke, throwing for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions despite playing behind a banged-up offensive line and dealing with an injury-riddled receiving corps.

Purdy’s efficiency numbers speak for themselves. In 2023, he led the league in passer rating (113.0) and yards per attempt (9.6). Even in a ‘down year’ statistically in 2024, he still ranked in the top 10 for QBR, proving he can produce even when the circumstances aren’t ideal.

Now, with San Francisco shedding veterans and being relatively quiet in free agency, Purdy is approaching a career-defining moment. He’s on the verge of a massive payday. While critics still debate his status as a system quarterback or a legitimate franchise leader, Purdy ignores the noise. “All these people tell me that you’re not going to be good enough,” Purdy said. “But deep down inside, this whole time, I’m like, just wait until I get an opportunity to compete.”

With Saubert gone, the 49ers will rely on Farrell to handle primary blocking duties alongside Kittle. Farrell, while younger and arguably more consistent as a blocker, has never caught a touchdown in four NFL seasons. That means Kittle could see an even bigger role in the passing game—something 49ers fans certainly won’t complain about. As for Purdy, his mission remains the same: Prove he’s not just a product of Kyle Shanahan’s system. But a quarterback capable of carrying a franchise.

One thing’s for sure: Whether it’s an unheralded tight end like Eric Saubert or a quarterback with something to prove, the 49ers have a way of turning overlooked players into difference makers. And as Kittle’s message reminds us, their impact lingers far beyond their time in San Francisco. What do you think?