The San Francisco 49ers overhauled the defensive tackle position in the offseason, parting ways with Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins. The front office drafted Alfred Collins in the second round and C.J. West in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Collins and West join Jordan Elliott, Kevin Givens, Kalia Davis, Evan Anderson, and Sebastian Valdez as part of their depth.
Highlighting one of the 49ers’ former defensive tackles who remains unsigned is last season’s mid-season acquisition, who revealed major career news.
San Francisco 49ers see mid-season acquisition suddenly retire
According to Jeremy Fowler, Khalil Davis has announced his retirement after failing to sign with a team, and training camp starting this week. He has played for six teams throughout his five-year NFL career. Davis ended his career with 46 tackles, ten TFLs, ten QB hits, three sacks, and one forced fumble over 30 regular-season games and one start, plus six tackles and one TFL in four playoff contests.
Free agent DT Khalil Davis has decided to retire, per his agent @djackson_legacy.
Davis, 28, a draft pick by the Bucs in 2020, recently played for the Texans and 49ers, who traded for him at last year’s deadline. He has 46 tackles (10 for loss) and three sacks. pic.twitter.com/hskuGEMDax
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) July 21, 2025
Here’s a quick review of his NFL career.
He bounced around with four teams in the first three seasons
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Khalil Davis 194th overall in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent the majority of his rookie season as a healthy scratch and missed time due to an ankle injury, playing only four games combined between the regular season and postseason. Davis recorded two tackles and two TFLs but did not register a statistic in the playoffs.
The Buccaneers cut Khalil Davis in October of his second season, and the Indianapolis Colts claimed him off waivers. He appeared in one game and did not register a statistic before the Colts released him three weeks later. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Davis to the practice squad, where he spent the rest of the year.
The Steelers released him during the roster cutdown deadline in his third season, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him to the practice squad in September and cut him in November. The Los Angeles Rams signed him to the practice squad in December but opted against signing him to a reserve/future deal.
He spent the last two seasons with two teams
The Houston Texans promoted Khalil Davis to the active roster in September in his fourth season. He played an important rotational role and posted career highs in every statistical category. Davis recorded 32 tackles, six TFLs, six QB hits, two sacks, and one forced fumble in 15 regular-season games and one start, plus six tackles and one TFL in the playoffs.
He saw his role shrink with the Texans in his fifth season. He recorded nine tackles, four TFLs, two QB hits, and one sack in nine games before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2026 seventh-round pick. Davis did not play a lot with the 49ers, missing six games due to a knee injury and being a healthy scratch, and recording three tackles in three games.
