Colts Send Deforest Buckner Back to San Francisco in Major Trade

WHO:

ESPN - The 49ers were 6-1 when Buckner joined them.

NFLTradeRumors.co - ESPN’s Ian Rapoport said the Colts “have started their fire sale” and expected the team to trade more players.

ESPN - DeForest Buckner is one of four players with at least 75 sacks and 25 batted passes since entering the NFL in 2016, alongside T.J. Watt, Cameron Jordan and Chris Jones.

ESPN - The San Francisco 49ers acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Indianapolis Colts.

ESPN - Buckner is 32 and previously played his first four NFL seasons with San Francisco.

ESPN - 49ers general manager John Lynch called trading Buckner to Indianapolis in 2020 the most difficult decision of his 10-year tenure.

ESPN - Buckner is returning to San Francisco alongside former 49ers Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw, who are also back with the team.

ESPN - Buckner’s 2020 trade from San Francisco followed the team’s Super Bowl run; the 49ers had selected him seventh overall in the 2016 draft.

NFLTradeRumors.co - Buckner was drafted out of Oregon and later signed a four-year, $84 million extension with Indianapolis.

ESPN - Buckner said after a Colts loss, “I’m frustrated. Same thing. We lost,” and, when asked what needed to change, “I don’t know. I can’t tell you.”

WHAT:

Colts.com - Buckner earned first-team AP All-Pro honors in 2020 and Pro Bowl selections in 2021 and 2023.

NBC Sports - Buckner had 4.0 sacks, four tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits, three passes defensed and a fumble recovery in 2026.

ESPN - The Colts’ trade of Buckner was their second major deal with an NFC West team, following the trade of Quenton Nelson to Seattle.

NFLTradeRumors.co - DeForest Buckner’s 2026 statistics included 31 tackles, four sacks, a fumble recovery and three pass defenses.

NBC Sports - Buckner recorded 75.5 sacks, 101 tackles for loss and 196 quarterback hits in 158 career games.

NBC Sports - Buckner recorded 12.0 sacks for San Francisco in 2018 and 7.5 sacks in 2019.

Heavy NFL - The Colts were 2-5 after their latest loss.

Heavy NFL - The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10.

NFLTradeRumors.co - Josh Downs recorded 26 receptions on 46 targets for 307 yards and no touchdowns in seven games during 2026.

NFLTradeRumors.co - Josh Downs, 25, was drafted by Indianapolis in the third round, 79th overall, in 2023; his four-year rookie contract was worth $5,520,458 and included a $1,014,879 signing bonus.

NFLTradeRumors.co - Grover Stewart recorded 22 tackles, two tackles for loss, half a sack and one pass deflection in seven games during 2026.

NFLTradeRumors.co - Stewart, 33, was drafted by Indianapolis in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Albany State. He later signed a three-year, $30.75 million extension and a further three-year, $39 million extension.

NBC Sports - Buckner helped San Francisco reach Super Bowl LIV after the 2019 season.

Colts.com - DeForest Buckner recorded 47 sacks, 122 quarterback hits, 63 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and 20 passes batted down in 95 games, including 90 starts, during seven seasons with Indianapolis.

Colts.com - Buckner returned from season-ending neck surgery on New Year's Eve 2025 and recorded four sacks in his first seven games of 2026.

NBC Sports - Buckner has recorded 75.5 sacks, 101 tackles for loss and 196 quarterback hits in 158 career games.

Yahoo Sports - ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Colts did not want to trade running back Jonathan Taylor, though that could change, and expected the team to receive calls about Josh Downs and Grover Stewart.

NBC Sports - Buckner recorded four tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits in 2026.

Colts.com - After trading Buckner and Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis outlined its draft selections for the next two NFL drafts.

Colts.com - The Colts acquired a first-round draft pick from San Francisco for Buckner in 2020.

Colts.com - The Colts said Buckner recorded four sacks over the first seven games of 2026 after returning from neck surgery.

NBC Sports - Buckner has recorded four tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits in 2026.

NBC Sports - Buckner has 75.5 sacks, 101 tackles for loss and 196 quarterback hits in 158 career games.

NBC Sports - Buckner recorded 12.0 sacks for San Francisco in 2018 and 7.5 sacks in 2019.

Colts.com - Over seven seasons with Indianapolis, DeForest Buckner recorded 47 sacks, 122 quarterback hits, 63 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and 20 passes batted down in 95 games, including 90 starts.

Colts.com - Buckner earned first-team AP All-Pro honors in 2020 and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2023.

NFLTradeRumors.co - Before being traded to Indianapolis, Buckner signed a two-year, $46 million extension with the Colts after his initial four-year, $84 million extension.

NFLTradeRumors.co - Buckner’s 2026 statistics include 31 tackles, a fumble recovery and three pass defenses.

ESPN - San Francisco traded a 2027 fourth-round draft pick to Indianapolis for Buckner.

RotoWire NFL - Tom Pelissero reported that the 49ers acquired Buckner from the Colts for a 2027 fourth-round pick.

ESPN - Buckner had four sacks in seven games, more than any 49ers player through seven weeks and tied with Colts teammate Adetïwa Adebawore for the Colts lead. NFLTradeRumors.co also reported 31 tackles, a fumble recovery and three pass defenses.

ESPN - Buckner was due to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. The Colts received a fourth-round pick rather than the maximum compensatory selection ESPN said they could have received: a 2028 fifth-round pick.

ESPN - The Colts also traded eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks. NFLTradeRumors.co reported Nelson’s trade return was a third- and a fifth-round pick.

ESPN - Buckner is expected to start at tackle beside Osa Odighizuwa. San Francisco’s defensive line had been missing tackles Alfred Collins, C.J. West and James Thompson Jr., and ends Nick Bosa and Sam Okuayinonu.

ESPN - The 49ers had a 23% pressure rate with four or fewer pass rushers, second-worst in the NFL; against Atlanta, they pressured quarterback Michael Penix Jr. on three of 34 dropbacks.

WHERE:

ESPN - Buckner returns to San Francisco after playing for Indianapolis.

WHEN:

ESPN - The 49ers were 6-1 when they acquired Buckner.

WHY:

ESPN - The Colts traded Buckner rather than risk receiving only a 2028 fifth-round compensatory pick if he left in free agency.

ESPN - Buckner had remained loyal to Indianapolis through years of late-season collapses and signed multiple extensions with the team.

ESPN - Buckner was one of four players with at least 75 sacks and 25 batted passes since entering the NFL in 2016; the others are T.J. Watt, Cameron Jordan and Chris Jones.

Yahoo Sports - Adam Schefter said the Colts did not want to trade Jonathan Taylor at that point, though he said that could change. He expected Indianapolis to receive calls about Josh Downs and Grover Stewart.

ESPN - Buckner was visibly angry following the Colts’ third consecutive loss and snapped at a reporter: “I don't know. How about you guess. I'm frustrated. Same thing. We lost.”

ESPN - Buckner had signed multiple extensions with Indianapolis and maintained faith in the roster building of Chris Ballard, who had been fired.

ESPN - San Francisco’s 23% pressure rate when rushing four or fewer defenders was the second-worst in the NFL; the team had struggled to generate pressure without blitzing.

ESPN - Buckner said of the Colts’ struggles, “I don't know. How about you guess. I'm frustrated. Same thing. We lost.”

ESPN - Buckner had maintained faith in the Colts’ roster building under Chris Ballard, but his patience appeared to be wearing thin.

ESPN - The 49ers acquired Buckner to strengthen an injury-depleted defensive line and improve their pass rush.

ESPN - The Colts received a 2027 fourth-round pick instead of risking a lower compensatory pick when Buckner became a free agent.

HOW:

Colts.com - Buckner returned from season-ending neck surgery on New Year’s Eve 2025.

Colts.com - Buckner returned from season-ending neck surgery on New Year's Eve 2025.

Colts.com - Buckner returned from season-ending neck surgery to record four sacks in his first seven games of the 2026 season.

NFLTradeRumors.co - In 2026, Indianapolis defensive tackle Grover Stewart appeared in seven games, recording 22 tackles, two tackles for loss, half a sack and one pass deflection.

ESPN - The trade was reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The 49ers have reacquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from the Colts for a 2027 fourth-round pick, bringing him back to San Francisco after his first four NFL seasons there. Buckner, 32, has four sacks in seven games this season and 75.5 in his career, and is expected to strengthen a 49ers defense dealing with multiple injuries along the line. Indianapolis, which is 2-5, traded Buckner rather than risk losing him for a smaller compensatory pick, as the Colts have also traded guard Quenton Nelson and are expected to consider more deals.