As Kyle Juszczyk walked up to the bus to leave State Farm Stadium, he wasn’t sure about his future with the 49ers. But his suspicion turned out to be true, as on Monday night, the team informed him of his release after eight seasons together. What’s interesting is that both sides almost parted ways last offseason before the fullback agreed to take a pay cut to stay. While many would have assumed a similar agreement would come into play once again, it simply didn’t materialize.

His exit will have an impact on the locker room since he was a major figure there and has been a part of the organization from the start of the Kyle Shanahan-John Lynch era. They had brought the player in as an effort to revitalize their roster. However, Juszczyk was also controversial because the team spent a huge amount on a player (a four-year deal worth $21 million) whose position was being phased out.

That being said, until recently, it looked like it was money well spent. The player made it to the Pro Bowl in all eight seasons he was with the San Francisco 49ers. Additionally, the Levi’s Stadium loved him. Remember his fans chanting “JUUUUICE!” every time Juszczyk got a carry or caught a pass? Well, things are about to change and his wife might not exactly be happy. Here’s the thing: Tight end George Kittle and fullback Juszczyk became quite close, riding the highs and lows of football. Consequently, their wives Claire Kittle and Kristin Juszczyk also became friends, attending games together and showing support. So Juszczyk’s exit affects them too.

Taking to her official Instagram handle, Kristin dropped an update. She shared a picture of her pet Samoyed, with annoyed facial expressions. She also mentioned the one-word message in her IG story caption. “Mood,” she wrote. It showcased that she is not happy with her NFL hubby’s latest release. Similarly, Claire Kittle is heartbroken. In an Instagram story, she mentioned: “Just rip out our hearts why don’t you. 8 years a Niner. 12 year vet. 9 consecutive Pro Bowls. 2 x All Pro. 2024 49ers Captain.”

However, none of this means the NFL player is done. Earlier, when Juszczyk faced the season-ending defeat against the Arizona Cardinals, he reflected on his sentiments about his future with the team. During a discussion with ESPN on Jan. 5, Juszczyk said, “I know I’m not done. I’m definitely not done playing. I’ve seen zero regression. I think especially, I mean, you can turn on the last two games and please show me where I’ve regressed, so I have no plans of stopping,” revealing his plans.

In addition to having unfilled years on the contract through 2028, Juszczyk’s contract was expected to count $6,496,750 against the 2025 salary cap. This would result in an additional $1,674,00 being deducted from the cap in 2026 once his contract expires. With an immediate dead money charge of $3,570,750, the Niners will save $2,926,000 against this year’s cap because of Juszczyk’s release.

So, his release from the team is no surprise. But this move just came after head coach Kyle Shanahan’s team traded receiver Deebo Samuel. This heartbreaking decision of the 49ers totally devastated Juszczyk’s teammate and RB Christian McCaffrey.

Kyle Juszczyk’s release wrenches Christian McCaffrey’s emotions

After losing their veteran WR Samuel, Kyle Juszczyk’s release from the team came as a shocker for his teammate, Christian McCaffrey, and fans. The 49ers RB could not hide his emotions this time. Taking to his official Instagram handle on Monday, McCaffrey, 28, expressed his sentiments.

Sharing the 49ers locker room since 2022, McCaffrey expressed his heartbreak over Juszczyk’s shocking release. “My Brother,” he mentioned in his IG story post caption. It also included a broken heart emoji. The picture posted featured their most touching moment during game days.

They were both seen hugging each other. It was a really touching moment that made many people emotional.

In addition to his wife and teammate McCaffrey’s distress over his abrupt release, 49er tight end George Kittle also expressed his emotions by sharing a throwback picture from their early practice day. “Day one Juice,” he mentioned in his post caption, adding broken heart and juice pack emojis.

His caption clarified the deep meaning of his post. Yes, it was a picture from their very first day together at training camp. These instances clearly highlight the close connection between the players. So Juszczyk’s departure from Kyle Shanahan’s squad is a major setback.

What do you think about his exit? Let us know in the comments below.