Trent Williams finally earned first-team All-Pro honors following the 2021 season, earning it again after last season. It was a milestone the 35-year-old offensive lineman had always hoped to achieve, but it wasn't something that had the star player thinking, "OK, good career. It's time to hang it up."
After re-signing with the 49ers in 2021, the veteran quipped that his goal was to play until he was 40. After all, he had just signed a six-year deal, becoming, at the time, the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history.
After this past season, Williams briefly considered retirement before deciding to return. The NFL is tough. It takes a toll on your body, and Williams has been doing it for a long time.
"I don't know where that cliff is. I don't know when it's coming," Williams admitted to reporters after Friday's rigorous joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders. "I don't know where it would be or whatever. So I'm kind of on pins and needles almost. Every year, I don't really feel confident until I get back here and get the moving around. And then after a couple of plays, I feel like myself. 'All right, it didn't happen yet, so I could play another year, not worry about it.'"
Williams admits that he doesn't know how realistic it is to think he might make it to age 40 in the NFL. He knows it can be done, and it remains his goal.
"I want to see how long I could push this thing," Williams said. "I want to see how long can I stay at the top of my game, how long can I fight Father Time off. And when he wins, he'll win, and I hang them up. But, yeah, if it's age 38, 39, 41, I'm not going to leave anything in the tank. So as long as I feel like I got something to offer to the game, I'm going to be suiting up."
Williams remains one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL. Pro Football Focus recently ranked him as the league's best tackle.
When Father Time does come calling, telling Williams he can no longer push his body to the extent that he has been, the offensive lineman feels "more than comfortable with hanging them up and kind of being proud of the job that I've done over the years."
If his play starts to drop off, but the 49ers still want him around to contribute, he has no problem with that either.
"I think if I'm 40 years old and I'm not at a Pro Bowl level, but I can help the team, and I can help the guys in a locker room, and Coach Kyle [Shanahan] wants me around, then I'm going to be around," Williams said. "If he tells me, 'Hey, I think it's time. You had a great career," then it's time. As long as I'm working for the San Francisco 49ers and I feel up to doing it, I'm going to do it as long as I can and as hard as I can."