The San Francisco 49ers have released linebacker Malcolm Smith after 2 injury-plagued seasons with the team held him back from reaching his full potential. Smith signed a 5 year-$26.5 million, contract with San Francisco in 2017.
The 49ers expected him to provide a reliable veteran presence to the defense, but he was never able to stay healthy long enough to stay on the field. In his 2 seasons with the team, he appeared in just 12 games, including an injury that caused him to miss the entire 2017 season.
The Niners signed free agent linebacker Kwon Alexander and selected linebacker Dre Greenlaw in the NFL draft, a hint that Smith’s days in San Francisco were numbered.
Although his career didn’t work out with the 49ers, Smith was a key component of the Seahawks defense from 2011-2015 and added 2 more above-average years in Oakland before injuries slowed him down in San Francisco. No matter what happens in the continuation of his career, Smith will best be known for winning Super Bowl MVP honors, one of only 8 defensemen in the history of the game to do so.
