At age 27, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Bryce Huff is calling it a career.
The pass rusher announced his retirement Thursday after six NFL seasons with three different teams, including a Super Bowl LIX title with the Philadelphia Eagles. The decision was surprising, but even more surprising was the reason Huff hung up his sneakers.
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In his retirement announcement, Huff said he was starting a company called Naberstone with the mission of building infrastructure to put out lithium-ion battery fires, which are far more dangerous than ordinary fires.
His explanation:
“It’s time to start the next chapter of my life. I’m building a company called Naberstone. Lithium-ion batteries power the modern world, but they present a fire risk that current suppression technology has never been able to solve. We are building a safety infrastructure specifically for this problem. Proprietary suppression systems, advanced detection technology and containment measures for lithium-ion battery incidents.
“As battery technology continues to advance, this mission will save lives and protect critical infrastructure. I can’t ask those who believe in this mission to give it their all if I’m not willing to do the same. Football has given me everything, and now it’s time for me to dedicate it all to something new.”
This is a new situation in a world where most early retirements are due to injury or a change in relationship with the game.
Naberstone has joined co-founder and brother Jordan Huff in publishing Huff’s post.
The Niners later confirmed they had been notified of Huff’s intention to retire and wished him the best and thanked him for his contributions during the 2025 season.
Bryce Huff has a new job. This was completely different from the one he had before. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(Elsa via Getty Images)
OverTheCap reported that Huff earned $40.5 million from his NFL contract over his career and was signed for one more season in 2026. He began his career with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and evolved into a starter rather than a standout player.
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Huff left the Jets and signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Eagles, but injuries limited his lone season in Philadelphia. He struggled in the team’s Super Bowl win, and he was traded to the Niners the following offseason.
In his retirement statement, Huff discussed the experience and how it made him consider leaving football:
“At first, I let things affect the way I worked, and when I came to my senses, I tore ligaments in my wrist. That injury forced me to take a step back and really evaluate what was important in my life. That led me to San Francisco, where I was able to realign a system that I understood with a group of guys I respected. We battled through injuries, made the playoffs, and gave it everything we had.
“Through it all, I realized something. Football has been my whole life. I’ve been playing football since I was four years old, but at 27 years old, I know I have the ability to bring more to the world than just football. This sport taught me perseverance, it taught me discipline, it taught me how to lead and how to find a way forward when things feel impossible.”
The Niners have a need at defensive end after he retired, though they addressed linebacker on Thursday, signing former standout Dre Greenlaw to a one-year, $7.5 million contract.
