Khalil Herbert - People also ask
Khalil Herbert is the NFL running back who was cut by the San Francisco 49ers on August 17, 2026 and re-signed just three days later, on August 20, after the team placed fellow back Patrick Taylor Jr. on injured reserve.
Who Is Khalil Herbert?
Khalil Herbert is an American football running back whose path to the NFL ran through two college programs before a breakout at Virginia Tech got him drafted. Originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he began his college career at Kansas before transferring as a graduate student to Virginia Tech in 2020, where he rushed for 1,183 yards and 14 touchdowns, a performance that turned him from afterthought into NFL prospect.
The Chicago Bears picked him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he spent most of his career there as a change-of-pace back before a stint with the New York Jets in 2025. In August 2026, the story took an unusual turn: the San Francisco 49ers signed him on August 2, released him in roster cuts on August 17, then re-signed him just three days later after placing fellow running back Patrick Taylor Jr. on injured reserve.
Herbert now sits behind starter Christian McCaffrey on a 49ers running back depth chart thinned by injuries through training camp, giving him a real shot at meaningful snaps once the regular season starts.