The last time DeForest Buckner stood behind the lectern that he did Monday afternoon, he was a lot youthful — some six years — and a entire lot poorer, say by $140 million or so.
With age comes knowledge, and over his time away Buckner appeared to have realized a lesson.
There’s always inexperienced in the bag, but that doesn’t always apply to the other aspect of the grass.
The only particular person happier than the 49ers Faithful and the current inhabitants of their locker room in Santa Clara to hear the information of their commerce for Buckner might have been Buckner himself.
DeForest Buckner of the Indianapolis Colts seems on after a sport against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Getty Images
“I’ll be honest, I just fell to my knees and started praying,” the present and former 49ers defensive deal with said of his response to the commerce that despatched him from the Colts, where he signed in free company back in 2020, to San Francisco, the only other group he has recognized.
“It’s just crazy the way everything happened. God, he’ll open doors you thought were closed, and he was able to open this one back up for me.”
When Buckner left for the Colts, the 49ers were coming off their first journey to the Super Bowl under Kyle Shanahan, a run fueled in giant half by a dominant defensive position. San Francisco thought it could reallocate the cash and change Buckner through the draft.
In Indianapolis, Buckner saw a crew that “obviously wanted me” and “invested in me.” He “gave that organization my heart and soul,” incomes first-team All-Pro honors in his first season and showing in all but two of a doable 68 video games over his first 4 years there.
Yet, Buckner had one playoff sport to present for it — a wild-card spherical loss in his first season. At 2-6 this season, his frustrations appeared to develop in each of his postgame periods this season.
DeForest Buckner of the Indianapolis Colts runs onto the area before a sport against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Finally, his prayers were answered.
As was the particular request he made to principal proprietor Carlie Irsay-Gordon and interim basic supervisor Ed Dodds.
“When everything kind of unfolded, I made it pretty – I mean, I stated it – that I wanted to come here,” Buckner said. “I didn’t want to go anywhere else.”
Buckner’s internal circle of soccer buddies mainly makes up a map of the distinguished stalls in the 49ers’ locker room: Fred Warner, George Kittle, Kyle Juszczyk, Nick Bosa, Dre Greenlaw, Deebo Samuel. They stayed in contact, and Buckner never stopped tuning in.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner (54) celebrates a defensive cease against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. AP Photo/Brynn Anderson
“I’ve been keeping up with the games over the years,” he said. “Just watching the customary of soccer they play at, the successful soccer they play – this is where I needed to be. …
“Over the years they’d be like, ‘Come back home, bro. Come back home.’ I had my own things that I needed to do out in Indy. Lo and behold, I’m here.”
While Buckner agonized over finally requesting his commerce from the Colts, there was a certain customary that he had become accustomed to with the 49ers that was absent in Indianapolis.
“I know the standard here,” Buckner said. “It’s very high. It’s Super Bowl or bust.”
To be clear: It’s not like the Niners won the breakup, either.
San Francisco 49ers tight finish George Kittle (85) takes the area before a sport against the Washington Commanders in Santa Clara, Calif., Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Not unlike Samuel and Greenlaw, whose sabbaticals lasted only one season, the 49ers tried to transfer on from Buckner and never fairly stuffed the gap created by his departure.
Or, in Bucker’s case, occupied the hole.
With their first choice that spring, they drafted Javon Kinlaw 14th total. Injuries prevented him from taking part in more than 200 snaps in two of his 4 seasons before the 49ers let him stroll.
They signed Javon Hargrave, who gave them one Pro Bowl season in 2023 before getting injured and ultimately launched the following yr. After going back to the properly for Alfred Collins and C.J. West in last yr’s draft, they appear to have accepted actuality:
They couldn’t do higher than Buckner. And there’s no place Buckner would rather be.
Both sides realized their greatest likelihood at reaching the final aim was collectively.
He watched them make a return journey to the Super Bowl in 2023, only to come up quick against the same opponent that snuffed out their desires three seasons earlier.
Now, back collectively again, Buckner said, “there is unfinished business.”
“We definitely talked about it,” he said. “Me coming back and everything like that, it’s great, a little nostalgic and things like that, but there’s still a job to do.”
That work has already gotten under manner. Upstairs, basic supervisor John Lynch continues to work the telephones to further bolster the 49ers roster forward of the Nov. 10 commerce deadline.
San Francisco 49ers basic supervisor John Lynch seems on during warmups before a sport against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Getty Images
In the facility, it hasn’t taken Buckner lengthy to get back into his long-held routines.
Just earlier Monday morning, he was catching up with Warner over a espresso.
“He’s been preaching about how you want to continue to be a team on the rise, which I really love,” Bucker said. “This is the part of the season where teams start falling off and the really select group continues to rise and get better every single week.”
The message landed on keen ears.
“That’s what I’m still trying to do,” Buckner said. “Everything happens for a reason. Life just came full circle and I’m back. I’m a Niner again.”