The San Francisco 49ers appear to be on the verge of finding their next center, as veteran Alex Mack is set to sign a free-agent deal with the team, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
Contract terms had not been reported as of 4 a.m. PT, but news of Mack possibly signing with the 49ers doesn't come as much surprise given the interest he's shown in returning to the Bay Area.
A native of Los Angeles, Mack attended college at the University of California before being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Mack, 35, signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 and held down their starting center spot for the next five seasons. Mack has started 179 NFL games in his career and has been selected to six Pro Bowls while also being named a second-team All-Pro three times.
Mack would also be reuniting with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, who was Mack's offensive coordinator in 2014 with the Browns and in 2016 with the Falcons.
"Kyle's an incredible coach," Mack told 49ers beat reporter Matt Maiocco in February. "He's an incredible coach, great person, strong motivator, and runs an offense that is something that I'd know really well, and that I'd perform very well in. That said, they're a very enticing thing, and I'm not sure what's exactly legal to say beyond that, and we'll just see what happens in free agency. It will be interesting."
The center position was an area of concern for the 49ers heading into the offseason after starter Weston Richburg missed the duration of the 2020 season due to injury. Richburg, who recently underwent hip surgery and had his contract restructured by the 49ers, is expected to retire from the NFL.