© Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The wait is over for former 49ers safety Eric Reid. The Carolina Panthers announced on Twitter early Thursday morning that the team has signed Reid to a one-year contract. At the time of posting, the details of the contract are unknown.
The moment you’ve been waiting for… pic.twitter.com/gYDXQTeU3g
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 27, 2018
The 49ers drafted Reid in 2013, when the LSU product made a Pro Bowl and the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie Team. He had a productive career with the 49ers following that, but he was not retained when his contract expired at the end of the 2017 campaign.
Reid made headlines after joining Colin Kaepernick to protest police brutality in America. He was the second player to join Kaepernick in his protest by sitting on the bench during the playing of the national anthem.
Many believe Reid remained unsigned not because of his play, but because if his political activism. In May Reid filed a collusion grievance against the NFL over his employment status in the NFL. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the status of that grievance remains unchanged.
✊✊✊ pic.twitter.com/HVUgzPrHfH
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) September 27, 2018
“Eric has been a starting safety in the NFL and has played at a high level throughout his career,” general manager Marty Hurney said through a statement released from the Panthers. “After we put (safety) Da’Norris Searcy on injured reserve, Ron (Rivera) and I discussed our options, and Eric was at the top of our list. He is a physical safety with good ball skills and play-making ability.”