The San Francisco 49ers announced on Tuesday that they have signed OL Ben Garland to a one-year deal.
Garland (6-5, 308) originally entered the NFL after signing with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted rookie free agent on April 30, 2010 out of the United States Air Force Academy. That year, the Broncos placed him on the Reserve/Military List to serve his two-year military commitment. He returned to the Broncos in 2012, spent two years (2012-13) on the team's practice squad and appeared in eight games with the team in 2014 along the defensive line. On September 9, 2015, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons and spent the majority of the season on the practice squad prior to being promoted to the active roster on December 15, 2015. Over the next three seasons (2016-18), he appeared in 46 games (seven starts) along the defensive and offensive lines. He also saw action in five postseason contests (two starts) with Atlanta where he registered one tackle and one sack. In 2018, he appeared in 14 games (four starts) at guard and on special teams.
A 31-year-old native of Grand Junction, CO, Garland appeared in 39 games (34 starts) at Air Force and registered 115 tackles, 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two blocked kicks on special teams. As a senior in 2009, he appeared in 13 games and finished with 45 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.
