SAN JOSE -- Left tackle Joe Staley, one of the most popular members of the 49ers organization through good times and bad, is not going anywhere just yet.
The 49ers and Staley have agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2021 season designed to guarantee he will play his entire career with the 49ers. Staley was set to enter the final year of his contract.
CEO Jed York made the announcement at the team’s state-of-the-franchise event on Wednesday night, eliciting wild cheers from the full-house crowd at the California Theater.
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Staley, 34, is a six-time Pro Bowl performer and has appeared in 174 regular-season games in 12 NFL seasons.
The 49ers traded with the New England Patriots to move up to select Staley with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2007 draft. Staley began his college career at Central Michigan as a tight end.
In 2014, the 49ers signed Staley to a six-year contract worth nearly $45 million. Last offseason, the 49ers agreed to a revised final two years of his contract. Staley, who was playing far under market value for a player at a premium position, saw his pay increased from $11 million to $17.5 million in the final two years of the deal.
Earlier in the day, York alluded to the possibility of providing the 49ers’ fan base with some breaking news, and he delivered.
The day after the 49ers concluded last season, Staley joked about testing free agency after the 2019 season.
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“I have one more year on my contract. That’ll be the first time I hit free agency, so that’s exciting,” Staley laughed. “Yeah, I might go somewhere else. You never know.”
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But this contract agreement brings an end to such crazy talk. And everybody in attendance on Wednesday night was just fine with that.