DL #28

Darrell Luter Jr.

Cornerback · South Alabama

A junior-college product who became a PFF All-America cornerback at South Alabama, Darrell Luter Jr. has settled in as a rotational corner for San Francisco despite a painful Super Bowl memory.

Darrell Luter Jr. built his path to the NFL through Pearl River Community College before breaking out at South Alabama, and San Francisco used a fifth-round pick on him in 2023. He is still remembered for an unlucky bounce in Super Bowl LVIII, but he has continued to log regular defensive snaps and special teams work since.

★ PFF second-team All-America, South Alabama, 2021

★ First-team All-Sun Belt Conference, 2021

★ Played in all 17 regular-season games in 2025

Path to the league

Luter grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and started his college career at Pearl River Community College before transferring to South Alabama. His 2021 breakout season saw him finish third in the FBS in pass breakups with four interceptions, earning PFF second-team All-America honors. San Francisco drafted him in the fifth round, 155th overall, in 2023.

Career highlights

Luter opened his rookie year on the reserve/PUP list before being activated in November 2023 and working his way into San Francisco's cornerback rotation. He has since been used as both a backup outside corner and a factor in the nickel package.

2025 season recap

Luter played in all 17 games for San Francisco in 2025, recording 28 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to go with a pass deflection. He also appeared in two playoff games. His name is still tied to a costly moment in Super Bowl LVIII, when a 49ers punt struck his heel and led to a Kansas City touchdown in the overtime loss.