49ers Super Bowl safety suspended by NFL, could be considering retirement

The NFL has handed out a beefy suspension to a safety who started for the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV, placing his future in San Francisco in serious jeopardy.

Tashaun Gipson has been suspended six games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic.

Gipson, who is currently a free agent, appeared in 16 regular-season games last season for the 49ers. He made 14 tackles for San Francisco in the postseason, including five in the 49ers’ Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The 33-year-old safety is a 12-year NFL veteran, having played for the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Cleveland Browns before joining San Francisco in 2022.

Gipson may now consider retiring, according to Lombardi.

“Does Gipson, who will turn 34 next month, want to continue playing? That’s unclear, but 49ers general manager John Lynch said in the spring he’d remained in touch with Gipson,” Lombardi said. “Back then, the 49ers were clearly interested in adding a veteran safety. They hosted then-free agents Rayshawn Jenkins and Julian Blackmon. But both ended up signing elsewhere and the 49ers used a fourth-round draft pick on safety Malik Mustapha. … Gipson’s suspension means he can’t sign with the expectation of starting — and the 49ers can retain a veteran leader. But that’s all theoretical and dependent on Gipson’s desire to return for at least another season.”

If Gipson does end up signing with San Francisco, he would be eligible to participate in practice despite having to sit out the first six games of the season.

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