Under a new regime, the San Francisco 49ers are parting ways with one of their longest-tenured players.
The Niners released veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks, the team announced Friday.
Brooks spent the past 10 seasons of his 12-year career with San Francisco. He has led or shared the team lead in sacks since 2013.
"We would like to thank Ahmad for his nine years of service and contributions to the 49ers," 49ers general manager John Lynch said in a statement. "In that time, he played a significant role on some formidable defensive units that helped this team achieve great success. We feel good about the depth and competition along our defensive front and believe that by making this decision now it will give Ahmad a head start on exploring his options with other teams. We wish him and his family nothing but the best."
Brooks had been fighting to hold off third-year pro Eli Harold for his outside linebacker spot, Barrows writes. The 33-year-old was scheduled to count $6.1 million against the cap, the fourth-highest figure on the team. Harold, meanwhile, is still on his rookie deal and holds an $823,000 cap hit.
New 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan were given matching six-year contracts to reshape and rebuild the Niners' roster as they see fit.
Brooks joins former Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Roberto Aguayo among the most notable names to be cut to this point.
All 32 teams have to shave their rosters from 90 to 53 players ahead of their final preseason game. The third of four preseason weeks got underway Thursday.
