Eight years after he was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers, former Washington Huskies star wide receiver Dante Pettis is returning to the organization that drafted him.
On Tuesday, Pettis re-signed with coach Kyle Shanahan's team as it deals with a host of injuries that have significantly impacted quarterback Brock Purdy's wide receiver corps.
After leaving Sunday's 36-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals with a chest injury, All-Pro wide receiver Mike Evans is day-to-day, while wide receivers Christian Kirk, Demarcus Robinson, De'Zhaun Stribling, and Ricky Pearsall are all on injured reserve.
Reunion! The #49ers are signing WR Dante Pettis, eight years after selecting him in the 2nd-round of the 2018 NFL
Draft, per sources. Pettis is headed back to where his NFL journey began. pic.twitter.com/C1TIVP4VHK
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 29, 2026
In his first stint with the 49ers, Pettis never seemed to get on the same page with Shanahan, recording 38 catches for 576 yards and 7 touchdowns over 28 games from 2018 through 2020, before he was released ahead of the trade deadline and claimed off waivers by the New York Giants.
Since then, Pettis, who did not play in the 2023 or 2024 seasons, has also had stints with the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints before he signed with the Buffalo Bills in the 2026 preseason, but he did not make the 53-man roster.
In his career, Pettis, who still holds the NCAA record for punt return touchdowns with 9, has compiled 92 catches for 1,231 yards and 13 touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Former Washington football WR reunites with San Francisco 49ers
