Since Sebastian Valdez was promoted to the San Francisco 49ers active roster, the former Washington Huskies standout defensive lineman has done nothing but produce.
In his third appearance this season on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, Valdez recorded his first career sack against 2025 first-round pick Grey Zabel midway through the first quarter in a 32-29 win for San Francisco. Valdez took down Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold for a 5-yard loss on second down, which led to the second three-and-out from the 49ers defense in the first quarter with the score level at 7-7.
The 6-foot-3, second-year defender finished with three total tackles over a career-high 33 snaps against Seattle, a sign that his continued improved play and impact are paying
off in opportunities from 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff.
Former #MSUBobcatsFB DL Sebastian Valdez beats former North Dakota State OL Grey Zabel for his first NFL sack. https://t.co/IB9g4KcBFC
— Victor Flores (@VictorFlores406) October 11, 2026
Valdez, a former FCS star at Montana State from 2020-2023, faced off in college just once against Zabel in the 2023 playoffs, a 35-34 win for North Dakota State in Bozeman. Despite the Bison rushing for 296 yards and four touchdowns against the Bobcats, the now-emerging 49ers defensive tackle held his own when lined up against Zabel.
After finishing his final year at MSU with 27 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks in 12 starts in 2023, which earned Valdez second team All-Big Sky honors before he transferred to UW.
For the Huskies, the Spring Valley, California native made 13 starts and put up 49 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one pass breakup to earn a shot in the NFL. Valdez signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2025 but spent his entire rookie season on the NFC West organization's practice squad, waiting and working to earn a shot that has now come early in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Former Washington Huskies DL Records 1st NFL Sack vs Seahawks
