The San Francisco 49ers have themselves a new punter.
Saturday afternoon NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that the 49ers signed former Pittsburgh Steelers punter Corliss Waitman. Waitman’s agent confirmed the deal shortly thereafter.
Waitmann has been in the league since 2020, coming in as an undrafted free agent with the Steelers and bouncing around various practice squads throughout the league. His first full season came with the Denver Broncos. He had a year off and returned to the Steelers for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. His 26 punts inside the 20-yard line ranked 10th in 2025—nine spots ahead of 49ers punter Thomas Morstead.
Speaking of Morstead, this doesn’t look like some high-stakes competition. The now-former 49ers punter posted a farewell message to the 49ers and fans on X, indicating he is moving on.
This is now the third punter in just as many years. The 49ers drafted Mitch Wishnowsky in the 2019 NFL draft, and that was the last consistent player at the position. During the 2024 season, Wishnowsky’s season was cut short due to injury, and he was placed on injured reserve. The 49ers released him in May the following year.
As far as an upgrade, Waitman has 2,823 punt yards, but he also punted 62 times vs. Morstead’s 1,919 yards for 44 punts. His 45.5 yards per punt in 2025 (27th) is slightly better than Morstead’s 43.6 (33rd).
The one thing to take from the discrepancy in punts is Waitman’s return yards. He punted more than Morstead, but allowed 176 return yards, while Morstead allowed 284. Granted, return yards have a lot to do with the special teams around the punter, but that is a nice stat to look at and a boost for the 49ers’ special teams.
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