San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams will be 38 years old at the start of the 2026 NFL season, a milestone that naturally raises questions about his long-term future. However, the future Hall of Famer has made it clear that retirement is not imminent.
Williams reiterated after Saturday night's lopsided NFC Divisional Round loss to the Seattle Seahawks that he plans to continue his NFL career and return to the 49ers next season.
"Yeah, that's accurate," Williams told reporters when asked if he intends to keep playing.
The veteran offensive lineman previously addressed his future publicly following the 49ers' Week 16 win over the Indianapolis Colts, offering reassurance to fans that his career is far from over.
"I'm nowhere near done, so we've got a few more years," Williams said during his postgame interview.
The comment cheers from 49ers fans at Lucas Oil Stadium.
"I'm not leaving. I ain't goin' nowhere," Williams added with a laugh.
Williams appeared in 18 games during the 2025 season, including both playoff contests. He missed the regular-season finale against the Seahawks due to a hamstring injury but returned for the postseason, playing through the issue against both the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle.
Despite the physical toll of another long season, Williams continued to perform at an elite level. He entered Saturday's playoff matchup with a 91.1 overall offensive grade from Pro Football Focus, marking the fifth time in the last six seasons he has earned a grade of at least 91.0. However, his 78.8 pass-blocking grade was his lowest since 2012, and the 38 pressures he allowed were the second-highest total of his career.
Still, Williams has shown that even late in his career, he remains a reliable anchor on the offensive line, and the 49ers are better with him in the lineup.
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