49ers bid adieu to guard Mike Person’s ‘fire and grit’
Nearly two weeks after news broke of guard Mike Person’s expected release, the 49ers made the move official Wednesday, and did so with a thank-you note attached.
“Over the last two years, Mike proved to be a selfless player whose passion for the game was respected by everyone in our organization,” general manager John Lynch said in a statement.
“His character and professionalism was a great influence in our locker room, while his fire and grit on the field added to the physical nature of our team. We thank Mike and wish him, his wife, Kelly, and their children nothing but the best in the future.”
Person served most of the past two seasons as the starting right guard, and never was his image as an old-school lineman more upheld than in iconic pictures with a mud-covered face after last season’s win at Washington.
Person, 31, was hindered by a neck injury since the midway mark of last season, but he still started 14 games and all the postseason contests, including the 49ers’ Super Bowl loss to Kansas City. Person was a 2011 seventh-round draft pick by the 49ers before spending time with five other franchises. He rejoined the 49ers in 2018 and beat out Joshua Garnett for a starting job.
Person won the linemen’s Bobb McKittrick Award last season.
Shortly after ESPN reported on March 19 that Person would be released, the 49ers came to terms the same day with journeyman guard Tom Compton, a one-year deal that has yet to be signed or announced by the club.
Compton and Daniel Brunskill likely will compete for Person’s former spot.
Other 49ers to leave since free agency began two weeks ago: defensive linemen DeForest Buckner (traded; Indianapolis Colts), Sheldon Day (Indianapolis Colts) and Anthony Zettel (Minnesota Vikings); wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (New Orleans Saints); tight end Levine Toilolo (New York Giants); and, linebacker Elijah Lee (Detroit Lions).