Imagining a San Francisco 49ers team without veteran left tackle Joe Staley is probably just as painful as imagining the team without running back Frank Gore or linebacker Patrick Willis.
And yet Niners fans everywhere must understand that realization is going to happen sooner than later.
A report from NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco suggested there was a 50-50 chance Staley decides to retire between now and the start of the 2020 season. Either way, Maiocco pushed the idea San Francisco should prepare for the inevitable reality Staley will be gone, perhaps as soon as this summer.