The San Francisco 49ers are responding to their first loss of the season with a major move. After falling to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, the 49ers have acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick.
BREAKING: The #Colts are trading 3x Pro Bowl DT DeForest Buckner to the #49ers, per sources. https://t.co/4ChgBR98gn
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 27, 2026
San Francisco brings DeForest Buckner back
Buckner is returning to the 49ers, the team that selected him with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He spent the first four seasons of his career in San Francisco before being traded to Indianapolis in 2020.
The timing of the move is significant for San Francisco. The 49ers entered the season as a team with Super Bowl aspirations and started 6-0 before suffering their first loss Sunday against Atlanta. San Francisco’s defensive line has also been dealing with injuries, making the addition of an experienced interior presence particularly important.
Buckner has continued to produce at a high level in Indianapolis this season. Through seven games, he has recorded 31 tackles, four sacks, eight quarterback hits and three passes defended.
The 49ers had already been linked to Buckner before Tuesday’s trade. Reports indicated that San Francisco could pursue a reunion with the defensive tackle ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline, particularly with the team needing reinforcements along the defensive line.
The 49ers are making their intentions clear
The Buckner trade comes shortly after San Francisco’s first loss, but it also represents a significant response to the Colts’ decision to move one of their top defensive players.
Indianapolis has now traded both Buckner and Quenton Nelson on Tuesday, signaling a major shift for a team sitting at 2-5. Nelson was sent to Seattle earlier in the day, while Buckner is now heading back to the organization where his NFL career began.
For San Francisco, the move adds another established player to a roster that remains positioned to compete in the NFC. The 49ers are heading into their Week 8 bye, giving Buckner additional time to get acclimated to the defense before the team’s next game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9.
Buckner’s return also gives San Francisco a familiar presence in the middle of its defensive line. The 49ers know exactly what they are getting from a player who spent four seasons in the organization before becoming a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
After suffering their first loss, San Francisco has wasted little time making a statement that it intends to remain aggressive.