The San Francisco 49ers have packed their bags and left Levi's Stadium, heading home as preparations ramp up to host the Super Bowl next month. Their season, filled with bright moments, ended in a crushing 41-6 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round. This loss came just two games short of what would have been a home Super Bowl appearance for the team.
A Painful Goodbye
Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir expressed the team's collective heartache. He mentioned how seeing Super Bowl signs outside the stadium upon arrival on Monday stung deeply. "It hurt," Lenoir said. "Because this whole season I was telling myself, if we hosted the Super Bowl, we have to be there. So it hurts."
Overcoming Adversity
Despite the disappointment, the overriding emotion for the 49ers aligns with coach Kyle Shanahan's post-game message. He told the team in the losing locker room to feel proud of their resilience. The Niners overcame significant challenges to finish 12-5 in the regular season and secure a wild-card win against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The team faced a string of injuries to key players throughout the year. Starting quarterback Brock Purdy missed eight games. Star defensive end Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner suffered season-ending injuries early on. Receiver Ricky Pearsall missed substantial playing time, and Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle injured his Achilles tendon during the Eagles game.
Player Perspectives on the Season
Purdy reflected on the team's achievements, calling it a special year. "Given the circumstances that we were put in and dealt with and guys going down," he said. "You see across the league that sometimes teams don’t really have what it takes to have these kind of circumstances and then push forward and make it to the playoffs and have a chance to be the one seed at the end of the year. All the things that we were able to accomplish, a lot of teams would have thrown in the towel."
Kittle provided an encouraging update on his Achilles injury, noting doctors called it a "best-case scenario" with a potentially shorter recovery time. He declined to set a specific timeline for his return. Warner revealed he could have returned from his broken ankle if the Niners had reached the NFC title game, but will now ease his rehab to prepare for next season. Purdy confirmed he won't need surgery on the toe injury that sidelined him for half the season.
McCaffrey's Stellar Performance
Amid the injury woes, All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey remained remarkably healthy. He played all 19 games, leading all running backs with 1,010 offensive snaps during the regular season and playoffs. At age 29, he recorded 450 touches for 2,314 yards.
Coach Shanahan praised McCaffrey's dedication, calling it one of the most impressive individual seasons ever. "The dude was unbelievable," Shanahan said. "His dedication to really empty the tank every single game and to be able to do that many games in a row is something that I’ve never really seen before."
Keeping McCaffrey healthy next season will be crucial for the 49ers' success, given his central role in the offense. Historically, after similar heavy workloads in 2020 and 2024, he faced injuries the following seasons, playing only three and four games respectively.
Coaching Staff and Future Moves
The return of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh this season helped the Niners navigate defensive injuries and stay competitive. However, his future with the team is uncertain. Saleh is a candidate for several open head coaching positions, potentially making him the fifth defensive coordinator in five seasons for San Francisco if he leaves.
Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak also draws interest as a head coaching candidate this offseason. Shanahan expressed admiration for both coaches, stating, "They’ve been unbelievable. I love both those guys. Two as good of coaches I’ve been around and both will be head coaches, whether it’s in a week or so or whether it’s over the next two years. We’re lucky to have those guys, and for our sake I hope we’ll still have them next year." Shanahan added he wouldn't allow Kubiak to leave solely to become a primary play-caller elsewhere.
Offseason Outlook
The 49ers hold the 27th pick in the upcoming April draft. They project to receive two extra compensatory picks in the fourth round and one in the fifth round. Notably, the team lacks its own picks in the fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds.
Several players face unrestricted free agency. Receiver Jauan Jennings, who missed training camp seeking a long-term extension, leads this group. Other key potential free agents include defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos, offensive lineman Spencer Burford, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, safety Jason Pinnock, Pro Bowl special teams player Luke Gifford, and returner Skyy Moore.
Backup quarterback Mac Jones could also move if another team targets him in a trade for a starting role. Jones signed a two-year deal with San Francisco this offseason and impressed during his eight starts.
