The San Francisco 49ers are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for postseason glory, making a headline-grabbing move just days before their highly anticipated Wild Card showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. On January 6, 2026, the 49ers agreed to a deal with veteran linebacker Kyzir White, aiming to bolster a linebacker corps decimated by injuries as the team prepares for a playoff battle in Philadelphia.
White, 29, is no stranger to the NFL’s bright lights. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers, the West Virginia alum has carved out a reputation as a hard-hitting, versatile presence in the middle of the defense. Over eight seasons, he’s racked up impressive career numbers: 618 total tackles, 34 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, 7.5 sacks, six interceptions, 23 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery across 93 games (73 starts). That’s the kind of résumé that turns heads—especially when a playoff run is on the line.
The urgency behind this signing is crystal clear. The 49ers’ linebacker unit has been battered all season, and the situation reached a breaking point after Tatum Bethune suffered a groin tear late in the fourth quarter of the January 3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Bethune’s injury, which forced him out for the remainder of the postseason, was the latest in a string of blows. All-Pro Fred Warner has been sidelined since Week 6 with a dislocated and fractured right ankle, and his return isn’t expected until, at the earliest, the NFC Championship Game—if the 49ers make it that far. Dee Winters (ankle) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps) are both questionable for the upcoming game, while rookie Nick Martin also sits on Injured Reserve.
"Let’s boogie," White posted on social media after the news broke, signaling his readiness to jump into action. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the 49ers are adding White to address their growing need for experience and depth at the linebacker position as they brace for a hostile environment in Philadelphia. While the team has not officially announced the signing, sources indicate White will join the practice squad and could be elevated to the active roster in time for Sunday’s kickoff.
White’s journey to the Bay Area has been anything but linear. After his four-year rookie contract with the Chargers, he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, where he played a pivotal role in their run to the Super Bowl. White started all 17 games in 2024 for the Arizona Cardinals, posting a career-high 137 tackles, along with one interception, 2.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, and eight quarterback hits. He was a mainstay on the field, playing 93.6% of defensive snaps and not missing a single one in 2023 before a torn biceps landed him on Injured Reserve.
Most recently, White had a brief stint with the Tennessee Titans, appearing in just one game in 2025 due to a lingering hamstring injury. He recorded three tackles in that September 21 contest against the Indianapolis Colts, making a key stop on Jonathan Taylor before missing another tackle that resulted in a 46-yard touchdown. After mutually parting ways with the Titans on December 2, White was a free agent until the 49ers came calling this week.
The 49ers’ linebacker room is now a patchwork of veterans, special teamers, and practice squad call-ups. With Bethune out and Warner’s status in limbo, head coach Kyle Shanahan has been forced to get creative. Eric Kendricks, a veteran with playoff experience, is expected to start in Bethune’s place. Shanahan also mentioned Garret Wallow and Curtis Robinson as possible options at weakside linebacker if Winters can’t suit up, though both have primarily contributed on special teams. Jalen Graham and Andrew Farmer II round out the practice squad options, but neither has seen significant snaps on defense this season.
White’s arrival brings much-needed experience—and perhaps a dash of hope—to a unit that’s been stretched to its limits. His ability to rush the passer and make plays behind the line of scrimmage could prove invaluable, especially against a dynamic Eagles offense. The 49ers have firsthand knowledge of White’s capabilities: he notched an interception and a tackle for loss against San Francisco in Week 5 of the 2024 regular season, and posted seven tackles in a 2023 matchup. "You can’t go into a playoff game relying on inexperience and expecting to get away with it," one analyst noted, underscoring the importance of White’s signing.
White isn’t the only new wrinkle in the 49ers’ playoff plans. The team reportedly worked out linebacker Milo Eifler, but ultimately chose White’s wealth of experience. The hope is that White can quickly digest defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s scheme with the help of Kendricks and his own NFL acumen. Saleh, meanwhile, has drawn interest from the Arizona Cardinals as a potential head coaching candidate, adding another layer of intrigue to the 49ers’ postseason narrative.
The playoff matchup itself carries plenty of storylines. This marks another high-stakes meeting between the 49ers and Eagles, two teams with recent postseason history. In the 2022 NFC Championship, White, then with the Eagles, recorded six tackles as Philadelphia routed San Francisco 31-7 on their way to a Super Bowl appearance. Now, the tables have turned, and White will be donning the red and gold in hopes of tipping the scales in the 49ers’ favor.
Broadcast plans for the game are set, with Fox Sports’ top crew—Tom Brady, Kevin Burkhardt, Erin Andrews, and Tom Rinaldi—calling the action. On radio, Guy Haberman will fill in for Greg Papa, who continues his inspiring battle with leukemia. Even legendary coach Bill Belichick weighed in on the matchup, telling SiriusXM NFL Radio, "Nobody’s dealt with more injuries than the 49ers have. They’ve been banged up across the board and that’s really hurt ’em defensively. The big question for Philadelphia, I think, is how are they going to play offensively and how’s the quarterback? Philadelphia can, as we know, get hot and can be as good as anybody. They’ve been winning a lot on defense this year. So it’ll be an interesting matchup there. Two great coaches, Coach Shanahan, Coach Sirianni and Coach Fangio on defense. It’ll be a good matchup from that standpoint. But Philadelphia looks better on paper. They’ll have to go out there and not turn the ball over and play the type of defense they’ve been playing this season and do a good job on the 49ers."
As Sunday’s Wild Card clash in Philadelphia approaches, all eyes are on Kyzir White and the patchwork 49ers defense. Will White’s experience and playmaking ability provide the spark San Francisco needs to keep their Super Bowl dreams alive? One thing’s certain: the 49ers aren’t backing down from the challenge, and the action is just heating up.
