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Longest-tenured 49er Jimmie Ward to get ‘more involved’ in defense

Of the 220 players who’ve appeared in a 49ers game since 2014, Jimmie Ward would not be the odds-on favorite to last so long.

Of all people, it’s the one with an injury-riddled career who is now the 49ers’ longest-tenured player, a title he assumed upon the retirements of Joe Staley and Garrett Celek this offseason.

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Even Ward, the 49ers’ top draft pick in 2014, acknowledged this is a “big deal… really surprising… awesome.”

MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 02: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs is tackled by Jimmie Ward #20 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter in Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on February 02, 2020 in Miami, Florida.