HC Kyle Shanahan Remove Rookie from The 53-man Roster for Leaking Internal Information
Santa Clara, CA – August 30, 2025
The air at Levi's Stadium turned heavy just hours before the 49ers announced their final 53. An empty locker. A name crossed off the EDGE rotation board. And a blunt message delivered to the room: Connor Colby — out.
According to internal team sourcing, Connor Colby, a fifth-round rookie, was removed from the roster for a serious breach of tactical confidentiality, specifically leaking elements tied to defensive communication on third down and certain pre-snap pressure signals. No one mentioned an injury. No one cited a personal matter. This was a story about loyalty — and about betrayal.
After practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t hedge:
“We build our culture here on trust. When a player takes internal information outside this locker room, it’s not just a violation — it’s a betrayal. And once you betray… you don’t deserve to wear the red and gold.”
Teammates stayed quiet publicly, but the atmosphere said enough. Position-group chats were locked. Small-group film sessions no longer included Colby.
Team captain Brock Purdy, who is understood to have spoken directly with Colby, kept it short:
“In San Francisco, these colors aren’t just a uniform — they’re a pledge. You can’t stand in the huddle with us if trust has cracked. Here, if you break brotherhood — you cut yourself off from the team.”
Personnel sources indicated the incident began with a private conversation Colby believed was “harmless,” but it referenced call codes used within the 49ers’ 4–3 defensive packages — an unforgivable slip just days before the season.
By nightfall, Connor Colby’s name was removed from the official roster. The door back isn’t closed, but the path is steep — and an apology won’t be enough.
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