# Sebastian Valdez
**Sebastian Valdez** (born 2002 in Spring Valley, California) is an American professional football defensive lineman for the [San Francisco 49ers](https://www.edgepedia.org/san-francisco-49ers) of the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league). He played college football at Montana State from 2021 to 2023 and at Washington in 2024 before joining the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2025.[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/sebastian-valdez/) • [2](https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/54633)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Position, team | Defensive lineman, No. 55, San Francisco 49ers; 6 ft 3 in, 301 lbs[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/sebastian-valdez/) |
| Born | 2002, Spring Valley, California[3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/V/ValdSe00.htm) |
| College | Montana State (2021–23), Washington (2024)[3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/V/ValdSe00.htm) |
| College totals | 43 games, 141 tackles, 22.0 tackles for loss, 14.0 sacks, 3 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/sebastian-valdez/) |
| College honors | First-Team All-Big Sky (2022); Second-Team All-Big Sky (2023); Montana State's Ron Warzeka Defensive Lineman of the Year (2022)[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/sebastian-valdez/) |
| NFL entry | Signed by San Francisco as a free agent in April 2025; NFL entry class 2025 college free agent[2](https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/54633) |
| NFL statistics (through Week 5, 2026) | 3 games, 0 starts, 8 combined tackles, 1.0 sack[3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/V/ValdSe00.htm) |
## College career
**Montana State.** Valdez appeared in 13 games as a freshman in 2021 and registered 38 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. In 2022 he started 14 games and tallied 44 tackles, 10.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 2 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery, earning First-Team All-Big Sky honors and Montana State's Ron Warzeka Defensive Lineman of the Year award. In an injury-shortened 2023 season he appeared in 3 games and totaled 10 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, and 1.0 sack, earning Second-Team All-Big Sky honors.[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/sebastian-valdez/)
**Washington.** Valdez transferred to the University of Washington in January 2024, choosing the Huskies over California according to recruiting coverage.[4](https://gohuskies.com/documents/download/2024/8/26/FBRel_2024_1_WEBER.pdf) • [5](https://www.si.com/college/washington/recruiting/huskies-turn-to-montana-state-to-find-another-defensive-tackle) In his single season there, he started all 13 games and recorded 49 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and 1 pass deflection.[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/sebastian-valdez/)
## NFL career
Valdez signed with the 49ers as a free agent in April 2025. He was waived in August 2025 and spent the season on the practice squad, with multiple game-day elevations in November 2025, December 2025, and January 2026; he re-signed with the team for 2026 and was again waived and re-added to the practice squad in August and September 2026.[2](https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/54633)
In the 2026 season Valdez has appeared in 3 games with no starts, recording 8 combined tackles and 1.0 sack, playing 90 defensive snaps (42 percent of the team's snaps) and 9 on special teams.[3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/V/ValdSe00.htm) His first career sack came in Week 5 of the 2026 season, when he brought down [Seattle Seahawks](https://www.edgepedia.org/seattle-seahawks) quarterback [Sam Darnold](https://www.edgepedia.org/sam-darnold) in a 32–29 San Francisco win.[1](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/sebastian-valdez/)
## Personal life
Valdez attended Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley, California, where he played defensive line and tight end.[3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/V/ValdSe00.htm) • [6](https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/spring-valley/monte-vista-monarchs/athletes/sebastian-valdez/bio/?careerid=p7eh82a0k2msc) Washington's 2024 game notes instead list him as a graduate of Hamilton High School in [Chandler, Arizona](https://www.edgepedia.org/chandler-arizona), where he was named 6A state defensive player of the year as a senior; the two listings disagree.[4](https://gohuskies.com/documents/download/2024/8/26/FBRel_2024_1_WEBER.pdf) His father, Russell Valdez Sr., played defensive back at North Carolina and for nine seasons in the NFL, winning [Super Bowl XLII](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-xlii) with the [New York Giants](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-giants) after the 2007 season.[4](https://gohuskies.com/documents/download/2024/8/26/FBRel_2024_1_WEBER.pdf)
## References
1. [Sebastian Valdez player profile, San Francisco 49ers](https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/sebastian-valdez/)
2. [Sebastian Valdez, Ourlads NFL Depth Charts](https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/54633)
3. [Sebastian Valdez, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/V/ValdSe00.htm)
4. [Weber State at Washington game notes, August 31, 2024, GoHuskies.com](https://gohuskies.com/documents/download/2024/8/26/FBRel_2024_1_WEBER.pdf)
5. [Huskies Turn to Montana State to Find Another Defensive Tackle, Sports Illustrated](https://www.si.com/college/washington/recruiting/huskies-turn-to-montana-state-to-find-another-defensive-tackle)
6. [Sebastian Valdez Monte Vista High School bio, MaxPreps](https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/spring-valley/monte-vista-monarchs/athletes/sebastian-valdez/bio/?careerid=p7eh82a0k2msc)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Defensive tackles › Active defensive tackles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license