Five-time Super Bowl winners waive trailblazer after costly suspension
The San Francisco 49ers have announced that Mexican offensive tackle Isaac Alarcón has been waived from the practice squad.
The San Francisco 49ers announced on Monday that Mexican offensive lineman Isaac Alarcón has been waived from the team’s practice squad. He is now officially a free agent, hoping to catch the attention of another NFL franchise. Ultimately, the suspension handed down in April seems to have had a deeper impact than expected, and while the dream isn’t dead, it’s starting to feel increasingly out of reach.
A damaging suspension
Six months ago, the NFL announced that Alarcón would be suspended for the first six games of the 2025 season due to a violation of the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. That suspension officially ended today, theoretically clearing the way for him to return to action - if head coach Kyle Shanahan had chosen to activate him. Instead, the team’s response to the player’s completed suspension was to announce his exit.
Back in April, Alarcón said: “I humbly accept this mistake and I fully understand the sanction that was granted to me, which I promise never to commit again, since I will pay more attention to the supplements that I will use in the future.”
His words carried hope, leaving the door slightly ajar for a possible return to the 49ers’ active roster.
The San Francisco 49ers today announced they have waived OL Isaac Alarcon and released OL Killian Zierer from the team’s practice squad.
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 13, 2025
A trailblazer in limbo
Alarcón saw action during the preseason and previously spent time on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.
Now, he finds himself adrift, waiting for another opportunity in the NFL. Regardless of what comes next, he’ll be remembered as a pioneer of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program in Mexico - and as an inspiration for future generations of Mexican athletes dreaming of making it to the league.
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