The San Francisco 49ers announced this week that they have reached a three-year agreement with punter Jack Bouwmeester, a move that bolsters the team’s special-teams depth heading into the upcoming season.
Bouwmeester, who began his college career at Michigan State before transferring to the University of Utah and later to the University of Texas, entered the 2026 NFL Draft without being selected, making him an unrestricted free agent.
During his lone season with the Longhorns, he posted a 44.5-yard average on 58 punts, highlighted by a 58-yard kick that remains the longest by a Texas punter since 2023, and he sent 13 punts beyond the 50-yard mark, including two that traveled 60 yards.
His knack for pinning opponents deep was evident in 2023 when he had 19 punts travel at least 50 yards, a statistic that caught the eye of the 49ers’ coaching staff.
Bouwmeester will join Corliss Waitman, the other punter on the roster, creating a competition that could shape the team’s field-position strategy.
The team also placed undrafted free agent Khalil Dinkins on the Active/Non-Football Injury List, a move that means he will miss at least four games unless he is activated before the final roster cutdown at the end of August.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan praised the addition, noting that Bouwmeester’s leg strength and consistency fit the offensive philosophy of maintaining favorable field position.
Special Teams Outlook
The move also ties the club to its academic roots, linking the roster with alumni from Michigan State, Utah and Texas, institutions that have each contributed notable talent to the league.
Fans can expect to see Bouwmeester’s long-range kicks tested in preseason games, where his ability to flip field position could prove decisive in close contests.