AUSTIN, Texas — After being released by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2022, former Texas tight end Cade Brewer had moved on with life.
He took a job in commercial real estate, and the extent of his working out was jogging around the neighborhood.
But Brewer’s agent got a couple calls from NFL teams in February asking if Brewer was still in shape and available for workouts. Brewer’s agent told Cade he needed some updated film to show to NFL teams. After initially contemplating the UFL, Brewer reluctantly decided on Arena League Football, because the UFL wanted a one-year commitment.
“When my agent suggested, ‘Let’s go play arena football,’ at first I was like, ‘Hell no. I’m not going to do that,'” Brewer said. “But my agent said, ‘I’ve done this with three or four other clients of mine, and it’s worked every time.'”
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Brewer was able to sign with the Nashville Kats of the AFL. Ironically, Brewer’s high school quarterback at Lake Travis – Charlie Brewer (no relation), who played college football at Baylor and Utah – signed with the Kats at the exact same time. So, the two of them made the 13-hour drive from Austin to Nashville together and began working out with the team.
Cade earned the starting Y receiver/tight end job, while Charlie became the Kats’ backup quarterback. But in their first game together in Nashville, the starting quarterback went out with an injury, and Charlie Brewer came onto the field, connecting with Cade for a 40-yard reception that set up a touchdown.
“When Charlie called the play, I told him, ‘Throw it to me. They’re gonna press me at the line, and I’ll get free,'” Cade Brewer said Friday. “It was like old times – pretty cool. It’s kinda cray, really.”
The film from that one game with the Nashville Kats, in which Cade Brewer had four receptions for 70 yards, was enough for Brewer to get an invitation to rookie camp next weekend (May 10-12) with the San Francisco 49ers, coached by former Longhorn Kyle Shanahan.
Join us in celebrating Cade Brewer being called up to the San Francisco 49ers! Best of luck, Cade—we’re all rooting for you! pic.twitter.com/fvubvvw5l9
— Nashville Kats (@NashvilleKatsFB) April 30, 2024
The Denver Broncos also showed interest, but Brewer and his agent felt like the 49ers presented a great opportunity. San Francisco is bringing Brewer in as an H-back/fullback behind eight-time Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk, an 11-year veteran who currently has no backup on the team.
“When I was in Seattle, I was a little bit on the smaller side as a tight end,” said Brewer, who is 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds (Juszczyk is 6-2, 235). “I think fullback is a good fit for me. We’ll see how it goes.”
Brewer played in 55 games over five seasons (2017-21) at Texas with 33 starts. He ranks sixth among UT tight ends in career receptions (59), 10th in receiving yards (611) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (eight).
