49ers' 2017 draft pick retires after 80 games in NFL

There was a time when it seemed like Trent Taylor might develop into a steady slot receiver in the NFL.

When the San Francisco 49ers drafted him in the fifth round in 2017 out of Louisiana Tech, that was the hope.

It never quite happened. Injuries turned Taylor's career into a journeyman one, and it ended on Sunday.

That's when the NFL's official transaction log shows Taylor as having retired from the league.

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He actually had circled back to a contract with the 49ers as his final deal before retiring, so it ends where it began.

Taylor played in 2017, 2018 and 2020 with the 49ers. Between those three seasons, he caught 79 passes for 731 yards and three touchdowns.

He joined the Cincinnati Bengals for 2021 and 2022, catching a combined eight passes for 103 yards.

Taylor played for the Chicago Bears in 2023 and had two targets with no catches while appearing in all 17 games.

He then returned to the 49ers in 2024 and caught one pass for 11 yards.

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He was set to be on their roster for 2025 but had to go on Injured Reserve in June and never returned.

Taylor became a free agent this offseason and didn't sign with anyone.

Now at 32, he is hanging up his cleats.

Taylor finishes with 80 NFL games played, totaling 88 catches for 845 yards and three scores.

The 49ers may have not gotten the next late-round slot gem, but Taylor worked hard to stick around, and now he retires knowing he did what he could to last.

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