A few years ago not many people would have had Colton McKivitz down as a player who could etch his name into 49er history.
McKivitz, a fifth-round draft pick in 2020, was waived in 2021 before being re-signed to the practice squad. He ultimately played a critical role in the 49ers making the playoffs that season as he stepped in for Trent Williams in the Week 18 win over the Los Angeles Rams, but that did not stop eyebrows being raised when he was handed the starting right tackle job in 2023.
He had
just five starts to his name at a variety of positions on the offensive line going into that season, and the wisdom of the decision to hand McKivitz that role was often questioned amid a difficult start to his time at right tackle, even in a season that saw the 49ers go agonisingly close to winning the Super Bowl.
But McKivitz has steadily improved over the last two seasons and was last year handed a contract extension to keep him tied to the team through the 2028 season.
And, having battled to cement himself as a reliable starter up front, McKivitz has his sights set on securing a franchise honor reserved for players who display longevity while remaining with the 49ers.
“I want to be on that 10-year wall,” McKivitz said, outlining his ambition to remain with the 49ers for 10 years.
“I don’t want to leave here. Obviously being cut, I’ve got some scars there. But, there was a reason why I was drafted here, why I was cut here, and why I still play here. Now I’ve had three good seasons of starting and I’m going into the fourth.”
Explaining why he feels so at home with the Niners, McKivitz added: “There’s a sense of family. When you have a core group of players who understand a winning culture and understand the standard of what this franchise was built on… it’s hard for guys to turn that away.
“There’s a sole goal in mind in this building. And it starts from the top down.”
The team goal remains the same, to finally get over the hump and win that sixth Super Bowl for the 49ers. Yet, given the difficulty of actually climbing that mountain, there is obvious significance in individual achievements such as joining the likes of Joe Montana, Steve Young and Jerry Rice on the 10-year wall.
Back in 2021, it would have been difficult see McKivitz realizing such a lofty goal, but his progress, his dependability and his durability have made him an asset to San Francisco and made the 10-year wall a distinct possibility for him.
The 2020 draft saw the 49ers make two first-round selections in the form of Javon Kinlaw and Brandon Aiyuk and unearth a late-round gem in Jauan Jennings. Regardless of whether he makes the 10-year wall, McKivitz looks set to become the most successful member of that draft class, and that is an unexpected achievement that stands as a testament to his resilience.
In a season in which he will now face Myles Garrett twice in addition to going up against the Seattle Seahawks’ defensive front, McKivitz will need to show plenty of character to help make it a strong 2026 for San Francisco.
