It was believed that San Francisco 49ers safety Tashaun Gipson was mulling over the possibility of retiring from the NFL. The 32-year-old defender has played 11 seasons in the league, spending 2022 with the Niners after two seasons with the Chicago Bears.
According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Gipson plans to play in 2023. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next week. Should the two sides agree to a mutually beneficial contract, San Francisco is interested in bringing the safety back.
Per source, safety Tashaun Gipson, a 20-game starter for the 49ers last season, wants to play in 2023 and will take part in free agency next week. The #49ers have said they are interested in re-signing him.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 9, 2023
"I think he wants to play, and we'd like to have him back," general manager John Lynch said last week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Gipson is one of 20 49ers players scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next Wednesday. The defensive back stepped in as the team's starter in 2022, pairing with second-year safety Talanoa Hufanga.
The Cleveland Browns signed Gipson (6-1, 207) as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming in 2012. He registered 61 tackles, a tackle for a loss, a quarterback hit, eight passes defensed, and five interceptions through 17 starts with the 49ers last season, per Pro Football Reference.
Gipson has also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.
