Edge rusher Bryce Huff has expressed his enthusiasm about reuniting with former Jets defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as he joins the San Francisco 49ers this offseason. Reflecting on his past with the Philadelphia Eagles, Huff revealed that he spent considerable time contemplating his trade away from Philly last year.
In 2024, while playing under Saleh with the Jets, Huff had a breakout season, recording 10.5 sacks. This impressive performance earned him a three-year contract with the Eagles. However, despite the high expectations, Huff struggled to find his rhythm during his sole season in Philadelphia. The transition from playing with his hand on the ground to a standing position as an edge rusher proved to be a poor fit for his playing style. Consequently, he found himself sidelined during the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory over the Chiefs.
During a recent appearance on The SFNiners podcast, Huff candidly admitted he sensed early on that his time in Philadelphia wasn’t going to unfold as he had hoped. He understood that, given his status as a high-profile signing, a mid-season trade wasn’t on the horizon. Nonetheless, he believes this offseason’s trade was a much-needed move to reset his career trajectory.
“There’s a plethora of things that went down,” Huff remarked, choosing not to delve into specifics. Having spent five years in the league, he has a keen sense of what it feels like to be in a favorable situation. “I gotta look out for myself and do what I think is best,” he explained. “I kinda knew where it was headed fairly early on into the season, probably even training camp if I’m being honest. So when everything popped off, it was just like ‘Yeah, all right let’s get to work.’”
Now, with the 49ers also aiming for a fresh start following a challenging 2024 season, this partnership has the potential to be mutually beneficial. As Huff sets his sights on the upcoming fall, expectations are high for both him and his new team.
