San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Keion White was shot in the ankle early Monday during a Super Bowl-related event in San Francisco, the team said. He went into surgery Monday afternoon.
The 49ers issued a statement saying White was the victim of a shooting and suffered a gunshot wound to his ankle; the team said it will share updates as they become available. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner reported the injury is not expected to be life- or career-threatening. Officials said the shooting happened at about 4 a.m. on Mission Street.
The San Francisco Police Department said a preliminary probe found an altercation between two groups at the gathering and that the victim was struck by an unknown suspect. Police also indicated they do not believe White was involved in the dispute that led to the shooting.
Super Bowl 60 was staged in the Bay Area on Sunday, with the Seattle Seahawks beating the New England Patriots 29-13 at Levi’s Stadium in nearby Santa Clara. White, 27, began the season with the Patriots and joined the 49ers midseason, and his social media showed him at the Super Bowl wearing Patriots gear; he totaled 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 14 games this year.
Fan Take: This incident highlights ongoing concerns about player safety at large public events and could prompt teams and leagues to review security for players attending high-profile gatherings. While the injury doesn’t appear to be career-threatening, it could still affect the 49ers’ depth on the defensive line in the short term and spark broader conversations about off-field risks for NFL players.
