SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Veteran kicker Phil Dawson has signed his new one-year contract to stay with the San Francisco 49ers, after reaching agreement on the deal Friday.
The 49ers announced the signing Monday. Dawson, who will enter his 18th NFL season and fourth with San Francisco after spending his first 14 years with the Browns, made 24 of 27 field goals last season, including a long of 54 yards.
"Phil is a consummate professional whose production on the field and his leadership in both the locker room and the community have been great assets to our organization," general manager Trent Baalke said. "He has an impressive approach to his craft that has allowed him to consistently rank among the best in the business throughout his career. We are pleased that Phil has chosen to continue his accomplished career with the 49ers."
The 41-year-old Dawson had said he wanted to play at least another season and expressed his desire to remain with the Niners despite no longer handling kickoff — something he misses. Dawson has said he considers it a "win-win" because he has been able to concentrate all of his efforts on field goals and PATs and feels much better physically over the grind of a long NFL season. He also enjoyed being a mentor to rookie punter Bradley Pinion last season.
Along with being one of the steadiest kickers in the league, Dawson also has been a valuable influence and example in a locker room that has dealt with its share of turmoil and change in recent years. The 49ers went 5-11 last season, fired first-year coach Jim Tomsula and replaced him with Chip Kelly. Now-Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and the team parted ways at the end of the 2014 season after missing the playoffs following three straight trips to the NFC championship game, including a loss to Baltimore in the Super Bowl in February 2013.
