The San Francisco 49ers will not be adding veteran safety Juan Thornhill to their secondary. The former Cleveland Browns defender visited the 49ers last Thursday but is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
The #Steelers are signing FA S Juan Thornhill to a 1-year deal, per me and @MikeGarafolo. An opportunity with one of the NFL's best defenses to show he's still a top safety. The former #Browns standout lands in a division he knows well. pic.twitter.com/hN0ikaXZOb
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2025
San Francisco has already made a couple of additions to its secondary by signing safeties Richie Grant and Jason Pinnock.
RELATED 49ers 2025 Free Agency Tracker: Signings, Interests, Departures
Thornhill (6-0, 205) entered the league as a second-round pick (No. 63 overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs out of Virginia in the 2019 NFL Draft. He spent his first four seasons in Kansas City, contributing to two Super Bowl championships, before joining the Browns in 2023.
Last season, Thornhill recorded 49 tackles (one for a loss), a quarterback hit, and three passes defensed in 11 starts with Cleveland, playing 57% of the defensive snaps, per Pro Football Reference.
Thornhill, 29, has appeared in 87 career games (74 starts) over six NFL seasons. He has totaled 337 tackles (six for a loss), seven quarterback hits, a sack, 24 passes defensed, eight interceptions, a touchdown, and a forced fumble during his time in the league.
