49ers Bring Back Superstar Retired This Summer For a Workout Amid Injury Crisis

The 49ers’ injury crisis is currently concentrated on the offensive line, where left guard Ben Bartch will be out at least until Week 7 with an ankle injury, and right guard Spencer Burford has just been placed on injured reserve with a knee issue. Rookie Connor Colby tried to fill the left guard spot in Week 3, but the unit still lacked the stability needed to support Shanahan’s explosive scheme.

In that context, the former star in question is Jon Feliciano—who has played both guard and center—an ideal solution to restore balance. Though 33, he was a “trump card” at right guard during the run to Super Bowl LVIII. After a decade in the NFL, Feliciano announced his retirement in February 2025, leaving a mark with his durability and versatility. A fourth-round pick by the Raiders in 2014, he became a starter for the 49ers in 2023 and helped push the team to the NFC Championship Game. Although he missed the 2024 season due to complications from knee surgery, his farewell Instagram post was still full of fire: “The flame still burns… SF or Buffalo, I’ll be ready if needed for the playoffs.” That promise is exactly why the 49ers called his name amid the current crisis.

According to 49ers Webzone, this workout is a strategic move by head coach Kyle Shanahan to patch an embattled front. With 61 starts in 113 career games across the Raiders, Bills, Giants, and 49ers, Feliciano brings the stability the team craves. In 2023, he earned a 78.5 pass-blocking grade from PFF, protecting Brock Purdy and paving lanes for Christian McCaffrey during the 49ers’ most impressive playoff push since 2019. “Jon is the kind of player who can change an entire locker room,” an NFC scout told ESPN. “He doesn’t need the spotlight—just a chance to win a ring.”

Faithful fans have a special affection for Feliciano, even if he isn’t as flashy as George Kittle or McCaffrey. His versatility, team-first mentality, and lighthearted moments—like joking about Purdy’s “impressive” talents after the Super Bowl—made him a quiet “fan favorite.” “Mongo is our warrior,” one fan wrote on X after his retirement. In the 2025 preseason, as the line struggled, calls like “@MongoFeliciano, save us!” flooded social media, underscoring his value.

Feliciano’s departure was amicable. The one-year deal he signed in March 2024 was derailed by injury, leading to an emotional retirement in which he called 2023 “the peak of my career.” Though there was a brief flare-up when he criticized Burford after the Super Bowl (and quickly apologized), Feliciano has remained a respected warrior in the eyes of the Faithful.

The workout at the 49ers’ Training Center is a chance for Feliciano to reunite with the team. “He’s excited and ready,” a source said. If all goes well, a short-term contract could bring “Mongo” back, along with the experience he gained in Buffalo—where he won the Ed Block Courage Award in 2020. One excited fan posted on X: “Mongo comeback? The O-line will be solid as bedrock!”

Will this workout mark the return of a cult hero—or just a fleeting moment? For the 49ers, a team desperate to reclaim the summit, calling on Feliciano is a testament to their belief in his undying fire. The Faithful are waiting to see “Mongo” back at Levi’s Stadium, where he once shined.