Over the years, the San Francisco 49ers have tried (and mostly failed) to find and develop quality backups to support All-Pro tight end George Kittle.
Two of those backup tight ends, Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley, had lengthy tenures with the Niners prior to departing via free agency in 2024 for the Atlanta Falcons. Dwelley, in particular, spent the previous six seasons in San Francisco before heading to the NFC South for a single season, logging just one reception for 5 yards over the course of his lone year in Atlanta.
Dwelley's return doesn't happen in a vacuum, though.