Super Bowl celebration for the San Francisco 49ers defensive end, Keion White, came to a violent end on Monday, February 9. White was a victim of a shooting and sustained a bullet wound to his ankle. However, he had a successful surgery later that afternoon and has already shared an update on what he looks forward to.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out with their prayers and concerns on my behalf,” wrote White on his latest Instagram story update. “I’ve undergone successful surgery. For those who know me, y’all know this won’t stope me from spreading peace and joy to the world. Full steam ahead. I’m in full spirits and ready to make the most of this off-season.”

The SFPD responded to a shooting at a business on the 1700 block of Mission Street at around 4:06 a.m. local time on Monday and found White with an apparent gunshot wound. The responding officers provided first aid and requested paramedics before the DE was taken to a local hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Preliminary reports claim that a verbal altercation occurred between two groups inside a business. White’s involvement in the conflict is not known yet. Some reports suggest that he was embroiled in an alleged conflict with rapper Lil Baby and his entourage after the latter was denied entry to White’s private section at a Super Bowl afterparty at Dahlia nightclub.

The witnesses noted there were two gunshots after their heated confrontation. The suspect is still unknown. However, SFPD’s Strategic Investigation Unit is handling the ongoing and active case.

Before the news of the shooting, White had been uploading photos and videos from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, where he was attending Super Bowl XL. His former team, the New England Patriots, was playing in the big game against the eventual winners, the Seattle Seahawks. White was wearing the Patriots hat, showing his loyalty despite his mid-season trade. Following the shooting, the team, too, released a statement.

“Keion White was a victim of a shooting and sustained a bullet wound to his ankle this morning in San Francisco,” the Seahawks’ statement read. “He is currently undergoing surgery at a local hospital. We will provide further updates when appropriate.”

More than forty-eight hours later, no arrests have been made yet.

The police also revealed that White has not been very cooperative in finding out the potential shooter. However, the gunshot was not life-threatening, and it’s not expected to be career-threatening.

New England sent White, their 46th overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft, to the 49ers via trade on October 29 for a 2026 sixth-round pick and a 2026 seventh-round draft selection. Including the playoffs, he appeared in 11 games for San Francisco, starting two, and he posted 16 tackles, 2.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, and three tackles for loss while playing defensive end and defensive tackle. He played five games for the Patriots.

Meanwhile, White isn’t the only NFL player to be shot and face a non-threatening career injury.

49ers and NFL players become victims of shootings

White is the second San Francisco player to become a victim of a shooting in the last eighteen months. Wideout Ricky Pearsall was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery on August 31, 2024. When he was in his rookie season, a 17-year-old allegedly tried to steal Pearsall’s Rolex watch at the intersection of Geary Street and Grant Avenue.

The teenager was shot in the arm during the altercation. The bullet passed through Pearsall’s torso without hitting any vital organs, and he made a full recovery, making his debut less than two months after the shooting. The 17-year-old was later arrested and is awaiting trial in juvenile court.

The New York Jets cornerback, Kris Boyd, also suffered a gunshot injury in the abdomen in November 2025. Although he was in a critical state initially, he made a steady recovery later.

Given these examples, White will be hoping to return to the gridiron at the end of the offseason, which he seemed optimistic about. With his recovery underway, the fans lent him their wholehearted support.

NFL fans show support for Keion White after the surgery update

Injuries are already an increasing problem that many footballers face throughout the season. However, a shooting incident in the offseason doesn’t sit right. No wonder, fans were shocked after seeing the news and noted the seriousness of the incident, “get better soon omg.”

Various fans were concerned about his condition and simply wanted the star to get back to his best health soon. Although not a regular starter, he is a key rotational player and makes quite a difference on the field.

For the 49ers to improve on their season, their entire squad will have to stand tall, especially their defense, which very much requires a player like White. “Wishing you a speedy recovery,” another comment stated.

Applauding the defensive end’s fighting spirit through the post, one user spoke to the toughness shown by the player. “Thats the spirit” and “Heal up! Rehab is the 80% of a battle soldier!” read other comments.

Another fan was simply concerned about whether the 49ers players are being targeted. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Pearsall’s case and White’s situations were quite different, both involving seemingly accidental shootings. “Great… but… 2 Niners shot in the City in recent times? Not a good look for us.”

Fortunately, or not, the incident happened during the offseason, and White has plenty of time to not just nurse the wounds but also rehab properly and get back in the routine. What would be concerning is if this injury could have any future issues for the DE. Of course, he not only needs to run but also use strength to push the opponents. Ankles play a crucial role in helping with the cleats’ grip on the turf.

A bullet wound to the ankle is certainly not something to take lightly. But the early reports suggest it’s not likely to jeopardize his professional future, and he may take a few months before getting back on track. Soon to enter his fourth NFL season, 49ers fans will be hoping the player is back to his best by Week 1.