"Been a crazy and frustrating week, but I'm forever grateful for the 49ers and the past 7 years. Thank you to all of the fans and our friends in the Bay Area, we will truly miss you," wrote former San Francisco 49ers turned Miami Dolphins center Daniel Kilgore via Twitter on Saturday.
Just one month after signing a three-year extension with the 49ers, the team traded Kilgore to the Dolphins following the free-agent signing of center Weston Richburg on Wednesday.
"I don't regret anything," Kilgore told reporters via the Miami Herald on Friday. "I did want to stay there. I had the goal of starting my career there and finishing my career there. That obviously is not going to happen. ... I've been there for seven seasons. This happening, I don't regret it, it's a new chapter for my family and I.
"As far as how they handled it, I appreciate how Kyle (Shanahan) and John Lynch got me in a position where I can be successful. They could have traded me anywhere, but I think they did the right thing by putting me in a position that they know I can be successful, and putting me with a staff that loves the game and that are good people."
Been a crazy and frustrating week, but I'm forever grateful for the 49ers and the past 7 years. Thank you to all of the fans and our friends in the Bay Area, we will truly miss you. Very excited for this next chapter with @MiamiDolphins and living in beautiful Florida! #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/tUKxoWggwY
— Daniel Kilgore (@DanielKilgore67) March 17, 2018
During a press conference on Thursday, head coach Kyle Shanahan explained why the 49ers decided to trade Kilgore rather than keep the four-year starter, who has been through four coaching regimes in San Francisco.
"Mainly because we see Dan as a center," Shanahan said. "He does also. I don't think that would be fair to put him at guard. This situation with Dan is one of the hardest things I've gone through as a coach. I've got the utmost respect for Dan.
Kilgore spent each of his seven NFL seasons with the 49ers, who selected him out of Appalachian State in the fifth-round of the 2011 draft. Only tackle Joe Staley has been with the team longer (11 seasons).
Kilgore started a career-high 16 games last season and was named the winner of the Bobb McKittrick Award, which is given annually to the 49ers offensive lineman who best represents the courage, intensity, and sacrifice.