The San Francisco 49ers have added another promising pass rusher to their lineup, signing defensive end Bradlee Anae from the Birmingham Stallions. Anae becomes the latest UFL player to earn an NFL opportunity after a standout 2025 season.
Originally picked up in the offseason by ex-Stallions GM Zach Potter, Anae quickly became a difference-maker on Birmingham’s defensive front. With former stars Dondrea Tillman and Jonathan Garvin moving on to the NFL, Anae stepped in with poise and veteran savvy—and delivered in a big way.
Throughout the 2025 campaign, Anae recorded 17 total tackles, including six behind the line of scrimmage. He also notched five sacks and tallied 33 quarterback pressures—ranking among the league’s best. According to Pro Football Focus, Anae earned a stellar 87.9 pass rush grade and logged 10 defensive stops.
Though an injury sidelined him for the final two regular-season games, Anae returned in time for Birmingham’s playoff clash with Michigan and started in every game he was healthy for this year.
Anae isn’t new to the NFL spotlight. He entered the league as a Dallas Cowboys draft pick in 2020 and later spent time with the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons.
This latest move marks the seventh time this offseason a Birmingham Stallions player has signed with an NFL team. The 49ers, in particular, seem interested in UFL edge talent—already bringing in Memphis Showboats’ Jaylon Allen and still retaining former Stallion Jonathan Garvin from last year.
Anae’s rise highlights the UFL’s growing importance as a talent pipeline to the NFL. Without the exposure and playing time offered in Birmingham, this opportunity might never have materialized.
Who do you think will be the next Stallion to make the leap to the NFL? Share your thoughts in the comments or join the ongoing discussion on Discord.
