As the NFL season nears, teams are beginning to make roster cuts. There will be a lot of roster churning that happens across the league. Former Badger quarterback Tanner Mordecai is a casualty of one of those cuts. The 49ers decided to move on from last year's practice squad quarterback.
49ers just made a lot of cuts:
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 4, 2025
QB Tanner Mordecai
WR Isaiah Neyor
TE Mason Pline
K Greg Joseph
CB Tre Avery
Tanner Mordecai has been cut by the San Francisco 49ers
Mordecai went undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft but was signed by the 49ers last August. He was later cut and then re-signed to their practice squad. He spent last season on the practice squad, working to earn a permanent spot on the roster.
This season, he was originally slotted to be the third-string quarterback but was beaten out by the four other quarterbacks brought to training camp. Brock Purdy is clearly the starter, and Mac Jones slots in as the number two. It appears they may be going with Carter Bradley instead, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mordecai only played one season for the Badgers in 2023 after transferring from SMU, but he originally started his career at Oklahoma. He came in to operate the air-raid system and, as a result, found success in his completion percentages and other career stats.
He was the starter for 10 games in that season and had a 65% completion percentage with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. He also had the ability to scramble and use his legs to pick up first downs for the Badgers. Even though it was a short-lived career in Wisconsin, he gets to stand in a long line of Badgers that beat up on Minnesota and his 69 yards rushing in a 28-14 beating of the Golden Gophers.
Mordecai may not get another opportunity at the NFL level, but he has the chance to head to the UFL, as he was drafted by the DC Defenders in 2024, but he never signed and ended up with the 49ers instead.