Nick Zakelj is staying in San Francisco — and the Fordham product had to earn it twice.
The 49ers re-signed the offensive lineman to a one-year deal, then made it official on the depth chart by releasing Kion Smith to clear a roster spot for him. That's not a courtesy signing; that's a team telling you you've won a competition. For Zakelj, a guard out of Fordham's program in the Bronx, it marks another step in carving out a legitimate NFL career at a position that doesn't hand out job security lightly.
San Francisco's offensive line has been one of the more scrutinized units in the league in recent years, with injuries and roster turnover keeping the depth chart in constant flux. Zakelj's ability to stick — and to come back on a new deal after the team evaluated its options — speaks to the kind of versatility and reliability that keeps a lineman on a 53-man roster when plenty of others don't make it. The 49ers simultaneously signed defensive lineman Victor Dimukeje alongside Zakelj, suggesting a broader push to shore up both sides of the trenches heading into the 2026 season.
For Fordham fans, Zakelj remains the program's most prominent active NFL presence. The Rams play at the FCS level, which makes every player who punches through to a professional roster a genuine point of pride — and Zakelj has now done it with staying power, not just an opportunistic camp invite.
The other Fordham alumnus on an NFL roster, running back Chase Edmonds, is currently with the Washington Commanders, though no transactions or significant news involving Edmonds surfaced during this period.
The story of the week belongs to Zakelj: a Fordham lineman who went from the Bronx to the Bay, and who keeps finding ways to stay there.
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