DALLAS — As the 2025 season winds down, the Dallas Cowboys are rumored to be considering a “do-right” move: releasing Jadeveon Clowney so the veteran pass rusher can catch on with a playoff contender next month. With Clowney on a one-year deal, the idea is simple — if Dallas is ready to turn the page, they could give a respected veteran the chance to chase the one thing still missing from his résumé.

But the story truly caught fire with what came next. Almost as soon as that door appeared to open, Clowney — a three-time Pro Bowler — reportedly made it known publicly that he wants to go to the

San Francisco 49ers.

In his eyes, San Francisco isn’t just another stop. It’s a real opportunity to finally land his first championship ring — the ultimate reward that has somehow eluded him despite a long career and a reputation built on impact plays.

What’s shocking the league even more is the sacrifice Clowney is said to be willing to make. The veteran is reportedly open to playing for a rookie-level salary — a number far below what his name typically commands — simply for the chance to get a true “last dance” in January. The message is clear: he’s not chasing the prettiest contract. He’s chasing the biggest stage, where one pressure at the right time can swing an entire season.

So why the 49ers? Because San Francisco is exactly the kind of destination veterans circle when they want purpose and structure — a team with a defined identity, a disciplined locker room, and a postseason atmosphere that turns every critical snap into a moment. Clowney wouldn’t need to be an every-down player. He’d need to be a weapon deployed in the biggest situations — third downs, two-minute drills, and late-game drives where a single hurry or forced throw changes everything.

Now it comes down to one thing: goodwill and timing. If the Cowboys truly decide to release him cleanly, the 49ers could have a rare option in front of them — a proven, battle-tested pass rusher who’s hungry, motivated, and willing to take a massive pay cut for one final shot at a ring. And for Clowney, if this move becomes real, it would be the loudest statement possible: not for money — for the ring, one last time, with everything he has left.