Arik Armstead Reflects on the Unceremonious End of His 49ers Career: What’s Next for the All-Star Defensive Lineman?

Arik Armstead has recently signed with the Jaguars, following his departure from the 49ers. However, in a trailer for an episode of his “Third and Long” podcast, Armstead has expressed his dissatisfaction with how his release was handled by his former team. He stated that he felt disrespected by the way things unfolded and that he has no animosity towards the 49ers organization.

Despite receiving an offer from the 49ers, Armstead ultimately decided to leave the team. In the trailer, he mentioned that after spending nine years with the organization, he felt that the fans deserved to know what happened. It is clear that Armstrong’s departure was not an easy decision for him to make, but he felt it was necessary for his career.

Being the No. 17 overall pick in the 2015 draft, Armstead had a successful tenure with the 49ers. During his time with the team, he accumulated 33.5 sacks, 43 tackles for loss, and 88 QB hits in 116 games. Now, he finds himself reunited with General Manager Trent Baalke, who originally selected him for the 49ers and now holds the same role with the Jaguars.

Armstrong’s full podcast episode addressing his departure from the 49ers is set to be released on Thursday, shedding more light on his feelings about the situation.