Chris Conley has called it a career and will not be an option in 2025.
NFL wide receiver Chris Conley, who spent his last three years with the San Francisco 49ers, has announced his retirement. The announcement comes from Conley’s agent, Jonathan Perzley (per Ian Rapoport).
Following the end of the 2024 season, Conley was an unrestricted free agent. While no reports linked the 49ers to a new deal with Conley, Brandon Aiyuk’s injury may have kept the door slightly open for his possible return.
With players like Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, and others vying for roster spots, the team’s focus may have shifted to developing younger options instead.
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Conley in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent most of his career with Kansas City across two separate stints.
He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans before joining the 49ers. While often used as a depth option, Conley carved out a key moment in 49ers history: his clutch performance in the 2024/25 NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Green Bay Packers.
Never forget Chris Conley being an unsung hero for the #49ers in the 2024 divisional round of the playoffs pic.twitter.com/wWxmhDEfh3
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) June 7, 2025
Conley only had one catch in that game, but it couldn’t have been more important.. He was also one of eight targets for 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy that night.
For his career, Conley finishes with 226 receptions for 2,998 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The 49ers currently have plenty of depth at wide receiver. If they didn’t, Conley likely would have remained a candidate to re-sign. His dependability and experience made him a useful insurance policy, particularly when injuries hit. Given the current youth movement and free agent timeline, another team likely would have signed Conley by now if there were more market demand.
Good luck in retirement, Conley—and thanks for the big moment against Green Bay.