The San Francisco 49ers strengthened the interior of their defensive line this offseason by acquiring defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys. The move immediately upgraded the team's front and positioned Odighizuwa as a likely Week 1 starter heading into the 2026 NFL season.
The 49ers completed the deal in March, sending a 2026 third-round draft pick to Dallas in exchange for the veteran defensive lineman.
During his five seasons with the Cowboys, Odighizuwa recorded 216 tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 81 quarterback hits, 17 sacks, one pass defensed, and two forced fumbles, according to Pro Football Reference.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, head coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear the 49ers expect Odighizuwa to make an immediate impact.
"I've been extremely impressed with him since the day he got here," Shanahan said. "I've heard about it, it was advertised. I always knew about him just from tape. Once we traded for him, all the phone calls we got of the type of guy he is."
Although Odighizuwa is new to San Francisco's locker room, Shanahan said the defensive tackle has already emerged as one of the team's leaders. His presence could prove especially valuable for the 49ers' younger defensive tackles, including Alfred Collins, CJ West, and rookie Gracen Halton.
"But he's been one of the best leaders on the team so far," Shanahan added. "Just how he works, how thorough he is on everything, what he does on his own, bringing guys along with him. Everyone from Dallas told us this, and it's been that way. He's been a stud."
Odighizuwa will also have an opportunity to face his former team during the regular season. The 49ers are scheduled to host the Cowboys in Week 10, a matchup the defensive tackle already has circled on his calendar.
Having spent years on the opposite side of the rivalry, Odighizuwa understands the importance of the matchup.
"It's a game that you got a picture on a dartboard, and you're throwing the knife at the picture," Odighizuwa recently told former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman. "Now, I just take down the picture, and I put up the other picture, and I'm on the other side of it, but the energy is exactly the same."
The 49ers are hoping Odighizuwa can help revitalize a defensive front that struggled in 2025. San Francisco earned a 39.6 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus last season, the lowest mark in the NFL. The team's pass rush also graded (62.9) among the league's bottom six and finished with an NFL-low 20 sacks.
With additions like Odighizuwa, the 49ers believe their defensive line can return to being a formidable unit.
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