Veteran Pass Rusher and five-time Pro Bowler #Elvis Dumervil may be 33 years old but he’s not yet ready to hang up his cleats and shoulder pads. Dumervil recently signed a two-year deal with the #San Francisco 49ers, who did not reveal the financial details of the contract. According to 49ers general manager #John Lynch, Dumervil is a proven pass rusher in the league whose ability will turn their defensive front more formidable. Lynch knows Dumervil’s ability as they played together with the Denver Broncos for two seasons.
Dumervil can reach 100-sack milestone with 49ers
Lynch made the announcement on his Twitter account by showing Dumervil sacking quarterbacks #Aaron Rodgers of the Packers and #Pittsburgh Steelers’ #Ben Roethlisberger. Dumervil, who also played for the Baltimore Ravens, can reach the 100-sack milestone with the 49ers, barring any injury. After an injury-filled 2016 where he recorded just three sacks, Dumervil said there were doubts about his ability to return to his top form. Before last season, he had at least five sacks in nine of his 10 seasons.
Dumervil said many people counted him out due to his last season’s debacles but now, he’s ready physically and mentally to bounce back and show that he has enough left in his tank.
The #49ers have NaVorro Bowman, Malcolm Smith, Solomon Thomas, Reuben Foster, DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead and Dumervil as key members of their defensive unit, which will be guided by first-year defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Dumervil is also expected to mentor Foster, the team’s No. 31 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
The 49ers recently signed Reuben Foster to a four-year deal that includes $4.7 million signing bonus.
Dumervil calls 49ers the right fit
Instead of joining a Super Bowl contender, Dumervil said he decided to join the 49ers, whom he called as a right fit. He was also pursued by the #Green Bay Packers. In his career, the 11-year veteran Dumervil tallied 352 tackles and 99 sacks.
He last made it to the Pro Bowl in 2014 after tallying a franchise-record 17 sacks in 16 regular-season games. Dumervil made it to the First-Team All-Pro in 2009 and 2014. His 99 sacks since 2009 rank fourth among all players during that period.
Before joining the NFL, Dumervil played college football at the University of Louisville, where he suited up for 44 games, with 24 starts. He finished his career with the Cardinals with 151 tackles, 32 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, four passes defended, three fumble recoveries and one interception. The 49ers waived offensive lineman Evan Goodman to create room for Dumervil. Goodman was signed by the 49ers as an undrafted rookie free agent from Arizona State University.