Logo

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.

14 views
Packers Rookie Cut Before Season Retires to Join Military Service
The NFL is often described as the pinnacle of athletic dreams, but for one Green Bay rookie, the path to greatness has taken a turn away from the gridiron and toward a higher calling. After signing as an undrafted free agent in May, the young cornerback fought through training camp and preseason battles, hoping to carve out a roster spot on a Packers team recalibrating its depth and identity in the secondary. That player is Tyron Herring, a Delaware (via Dartmouth) standout known as a true outside corner with length, competitive toughness, and special-teams upside. Listed at 6’1”, 201 pounds with verified long speed, Herring built a reputation as a press-capable defender who thrives along the boundary.  Waived in late August, Herring stunned teammates and fans by announcing his retirement from professional football and his decision to enlist in the U.S. military, trading a Packers jersey for a soldier’s uniform. “I lived my NFL dream in Green Bay, but being cut before the season opened another path,” Herring said in a statement. “This isn’t the end — it’s a higher calling. Now, I choose to serve my country with the same heart I gave the Packers.” Prototypical on paper for Green Bay’s boundary profile and steady on tape throughout August, Herring nevertheless faced heavy competition in a crowded cornerback room. The numbers game won out as the Packers finalized their 53 and practice squad. For the Packers, the move closes the chapter on a developmental project with intriguing tools. For Herring, it begins a profound new journey that echoes his “hidden gem” label — a player who consistently rose above expectations and now seeks to do so in service to something bigger than the game. Fans across Wisconsin and the college football community saluted the decision on social media, calling it “the ultimate sacrifice” and “proof that heart is bigger than the game.” Herring leaves the NFL, but his next mission may prove even greater.