Over the next two days, all 32 NFL teams will make tough decisions that will change the lives of hundreds of young men.
By 1 p.m. PT on Saturday, rosters must be trimmed from 90 to 53.
For 49ers general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan, that means possibly cutting notable players.
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Even in their third year in charge in Santa Clara, breaking the news to the unlucky few is never easy, as Lynch said on the latest episode of 49ers' "Brick by Brick" behind-the-scenes series.
"It's gut-wrenching to deliver news that's not going to be greeted ... it's not going to be a great thing for them and it's going to hurt them," Lynch said. "But I think the one thing Kyle and I agree on, through experience, I've seen players go through that. I've been through it. When someone looks you in the eye and tells you 'Hey, here's what we're doing and here's why we're doing it,' that helps you.
"You can at least know 'OK, I gave it all I had' or you at least know where the team is coming from. That's one thing we've held true to with each and every player that's come in and out of here. We've sat there and told them the truth and that helps them move forward. Doesn't make it any easier and it is a part that is gut-wrenching. It keeps me up at night."
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As NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco writes, there are 20 49ers players that find themselves on the roster bubble, and there might be room for only half of them.
The 49ers close out the preseason Thursday night at home against the Los Angeles Chargers. While most of the starters will sit the game out, the players on the bubble will be playing hard, hoping to avoid that gut-wrenching conversation with Lynch and Shanahan.