49ers' 2025 season in review: Questions linger after bittersweet success
On this episode of "49ers Talk," co-hosts Matt Maiocco and Jennifer Lee Chan look back San Francisco's unexpected run and break down some of the most memorable moments and how the 49ers will respond next season.
49ers' 2025 season in review: Questions linger after bittersweet success originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
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And, Jennifer, It is over.
Last time we talked was in the aftermath of the 49ers' season-ending loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and you could kind of get the sense all the way through that it, it was a bittersweet season.
Mm-hmm.
Because they did a lot of good things.
They made it to the playoffs with 12 wins.
The regular season, but just the way it ended, certainly left a bad taste in a lot of people's.
Mouths here with the 49ers.
You know, the thing about them winning and having a 12 and 5 season is that it gives everybody this hope that they can make it to the Super Bowl.
And they, you know, I think a lot of us thought that after Fred Warner was injured, it was going to be really tough sledding for the rest of the season, and they proved all of us, to all of us.
That they could still win football games.
And then right up until the kickoff in Seattle, everybody was a believer, right?
Mm-hmm.
Everybody was a believer, so to have the rug pulled out from underneath everyone at that point.
I think it was just... Yeah, it was definitely bittersweet.
It just kind of felt like everything caught up with them.
Right?
Exactly... You know, on that, on that one day.
Right.
Because one, one of the interesting things about this team was that they never got into a rut.
Mm-hmm.
You know, they never- I mean, there were games that weren't good.
Right.
But then they'd bounce back with a good game.
Mm-hmm.
And for a while there, it was just one win, one loss, one win.
It just went back and forth.
Mm-hmm.
But, you know, to have, I guess it was, what, eight, basically eight consecutive weeks nine consecutive weeks of, you know, a win, a win followed by a loss.
Mm-hmm.
Followed by a win, followed by a loss.
Um, and so they never really... Like, at every point, you and I probably thought, like, Uh, I don't know if this team is very good.
Mm-hmm.
Then they would show up the next week.
Right, and put together a good performance.
Mm-hmm.
So they, they did kind of manage to find a way to pull themselves up when things were looking bleak.
Mm-hmm, and that's one of the things Kyle Shanahan talked about in his post-season recap with John Lynch, is that they never lost two games in a row.
And how proud he was of the team for not letting themselves get into the rut like you were talking about, but they would bounce back.
And I think that says a lot for the emotional strength of the team after going through.
Everything they went through this season, that they stuck together.
And they managed to find a way to win.
Yeah, and they were in a really difficult division.
Mm-hmm.
You know, the, the, the Rams, one of the best teams in the league, the Seattle Seahawks.
One of the best teams in the league, and ultimately, the 49ers proved that they were one of the best teams in the league as well.
Mm-hmm.
Yep.
They, they made it to the postseason as a seed.
They made it into the second weekend of the postseason, so definitely nothing to be ashamed of.
Um, and, and it was just very interesting.
I, I don't think any of us would have been surprised at all.
In fact, we were probably both thinking that it was a playoff team.
Mm-hmm.
But just the way the season went, Uh, was not on the script.
Yeah.
You know, it was.
Uh, a lot of injuries, um, even some areas where... You know, and we'll talk a lot about the team and everything else.
But it's, it's kind of difficult.
One of the things we're gonna talk about is, Like, what was the biggest strength of the team this year?
And that's not easy to talk about or to kind of identify.
Because you look at it, and you go, "Gosh, what was their biggest strength?"
Mm-hmm.
You know, in the past, it'd always been the running game.
Right?
I mean, regardless of how.
Mm-hmm.
Good or bad the team was.
Heck, even in 2024, when they won six games... Mm-hmm.
I mean, they averaged almost five yards a carry.
Right.
And their top two running backs did average five or more yards a carry with Jordan Mason.
And Isaac Randle.
And those guys, you know, Mason's traded to, to the Vikings.
Mm-hmm.
Randle couldn't get on the field.
Mm-hmm.
So they, they just did it with, um, uh...
They did it in a lot of different ways, and even after they'd win a game, you'd go, "Geez, how'd they do that?"
Right.
Right.
There were so many different things that were surprising about this season.
And of course, it's how successful they ended up being by the end of the season.
But also dealing with everything they d- they dealt with.
How close the locker room was, and how there was no finger-pointing.
There was never any feeling of dread from the players or that.
Oh, there's no way, there's- the season is lost," at any point.
And, you know, they lost star players, and, you know, from the list.
From Nick Bosa to Fred Warner, Brock Purdy, and George Kittle in and out of the lineup.
And then ultimately losing George Kittle at the end of the season.
There was never any "woe is me" kind of attitude coming out of the locker room.
Which they had every right to have.
I think one of thecertainly one of the bright spots of this season was, despite the adversity that he faced from week one on.
Um, I don't think there's any question that Brock Purdy showed what he's made of.
Mm-hmm.
And for him, I mean, think about it.
Next season, early in the 2026 season, Brock Purdy will have enough pass attempts to qualify, and then he will be at the very top of the list in NFL history.
For passer rating.
But, you know, Brock Purdy, I thought, um, you know, are there areas he can improve?
Absolutely, but he's only 26 years old, and a lot of times, quarterbacks don't really get up to where they wanna be or where they kind of top out until age 30, 32.
You know.
Heck, in the case of the Rams, I mean, they have an old man at quarterback who's having a good season, so there are a lot of good years...
Ahead for Brock Purdy?
What did he show you this season?
Oh, that he can face adversity, and that a huge, huge contract did not change him.
Huge!
Huge contract did not change him, did not change his attitude, did not change how he approaches the work.
Did not, uh, change how he is acting in the locker room.
None of it.
Nothing changed, and I thought he improved a lot.
We've seen...
Yes, there were still some interceptions at the end of the season.
But I think there were much more, I guess, smart decisions in regards to throwing the ball.
Away.
Like, we haven't seen him do that as much until kind of later on in the season.
You know, throw the ball away.
Live to play it, you know, to see another play, and we saw more of that this year.
And, uh, and talking about guys who, you know, don't reach their potential till maybe their second team, like Sam Darnold, who was with the 49ers not too long ago.
So for Brock Purdy to be where he's at, I think is great for the organization.
Yeah.
Uh, what a season.
It started first week in September in Seattle.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, the regular season ended Week 18 at Levi Stadium against Seattle.
Mm-hmm.
And then the 49ers' season, uh, ends in Seattle.
In Seattle...
Right where it started.
Okay, so let's talk about some of the superlatives of this season, and let's start off, and I mentioned already.
The team's biggest strength.
What do you have for the team's biggest strength from the 2025 season?
Just to deal with the cards that they were dealt.
That was kind of redundant, but, you know.
Deal with the cards they were... Resiliency?
Yes!
... Is what you're saying.
Absolutely.
For them to be able to have everyone outside the building saying, "There's no way they're" going to have a winning record, to lose the players that they did.
To stay the course, to, um, to be able to be where they were at.
And, I mean, what a coaching job by both Kyle Shanahan and Robert Saleh.
They did such an excellent job working with what they had.
And, you know, I think it shows how good both of those guys are at their jobs.
Yeah, I put down depth because, and it's almost like their biggest strength was also maybe their biggest concern heading-mm...
Into the season.
Mm-hmm.
Because in mid-March, we were talking the players leaving.
Mm-hmm.
Really high caliber and good guys in the locker room.
Mm... Guys who checked all the boxes, leaving in free agency or released for salary cap purposes.
Mm-hmm.
Or traded, whatever the case may be.
And the fact that the 49ers were able to lose so many top-flight players at almost every position group the entire season and still win.
10 games.
Yes...
Speaks to the depth.
And so I put that as the biggest strength.
Mm-hmm.
Biggest weakness, I went with, gonna get very specific here.
Mm...
I went with the defensive line.
Yeah.
I- Mm.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I, I thought that, uh, both in the run game and, you know, being the worst in the league as far as the quarterback, it all starts with the defensive line.
And it, it really didn't start with this defensive line.
It never started.
No.
Yeah, never started.
Um, yes, I believe that on the defense, but, you know, I chose a position on the offense because the offense was supposed to carry the team.
George Kittle said, "The offense is veteran.
We've got a lot of stars," but the wide receiver group just did not pull their weight at all.
And, yes, I, I understand that Ricky Pearsall was hurt.
Brandon Aiyuk was a non-factor.
But, you know, They tried to bring in guys, but that was...
If the wide receivers group performs better, maybe they don't get stuck with only three points against Seattle in Week 18.
Yeah.
Maybe they won't get stuck with only six.
Points in the divisional round.
There was no wide receiver points, and I'm not saying it as a knock on, you know, Ricky Pearsall or Kendrick Bourne or DeMarcus Robinson, but you expect more.
Yeah... From 49ers wide receivers.
Kyle Shanahan schemes them up, and there just was not a true wide receiver one.
They need one.
If it's going to be Ricky Pearsall, Hopefully he's healthy, but they need a number one wide receiver, Jenni.
Going forward.
Jennifer, are you proud of me?
Because I made that bold prediction after week 18: "The 49ers will definitely score more than three points ... Against Seattle next time," and I was right.
They, yeah, six points.
They doubled it.
Oh my gosh, how embarrassing.
Okay, so now let's, Let's get into... Oh, let's go.
Um, who's your team MVP?
Oh, it's, it's the guy who touched the ball almost as much as the quarterback.
Or, or the center.
Yeah, yeah, right.
Yeah.
Okay.
I mean, Christian McCaffrey.
I, I don't think there's any doubt that Christian McCaffrey was the offense this year.
I mean, and even he might have... You know, he started every single game, which there weren't that many players that could do that.
Uh, could say that this year, there were six that started every game from week one to the divisional round.
Mm... Six players on the roster.
And if there was a poll, like, which player won't be starting every game?
You would've thought.
Mm.
Coming off of this 2024 season.
Right.
It's Christian McCaffrey.
Mm.
But yeah, he, he made a, a spirited bid to be a thousand-thousand player for the second time in his career.
So close.
So close.
Um, even though the rushing average wasn't Christian McCaffrey-esque, and the- something was off with the running game, kinda hard to identify, but 'cause they didn't have a wide receiver.
Yeah, but his pass-catching- Mm, Mm-hmm.
His, his importance to the offense.
Yeah, that, I think that was a pretty easy one.
Yeah.
Christian McCaffrey.
Absolutely.
Um, I went with my Defensive Player of the Year.
I went to Deommodore Lenoir.
Uh, it's kind of a tough one.
Mm... To figure out who, but yeah, I just...
I, I felt like he kinda handled that side.
I, I couldn't think of a defensive lineman, really, you know.
Linebackers.
They got some good play out of Dee Winters, I guess.
Mm-hmm.
And, uh, defensive backfield.
I, I, I went, I went with Deommodore Lenoir as, uh, the, the best defensive player, and I think he took another step forward in.
Um, in really putting himself up there as being one of the top players at his position league.
He hasn't gotten that recognition yet.
Mm.
He did get the contract, what, a year and a half ago?
Mm-hmm.
He was, in my mind, he was the 49ers' best defensive player.
I had, uh, thought about Deommodore Lenoir, but also I'll give credit to Dee Winters.
Because he started every single game except for the wild card round.
Led the team with tackles.
He also had an interception.
Deommodore Lenoir only had two, although he wasn't targeted as much.
But Dee Winters, just for being able to suit up, and led the team in tackles.
So, uh, availability, right?
Mm-hmm.
And there weren't a lot of defensive players who were available for the entire season.
The best ability is availability.
Mm-hmm.
Okay?
Yep.
Uh, good one.
Okay, um, now let's get in more specifics.
What was your offensive play of the year?
Best play on offense.
Well, the most fun one, which, you know, it's just the one most recent in my memory.
Is the double reverse.
Yeah... DeJuan Jennings throw to Christian McCaffrey.
I mean, that's the one that Sky bang reverse pass.
Mm-hmm.
That was my one.
Yeah.
I mean, that was the play of the year.
Right.
I mean, it was just so much fun, and they had very few explosive plays this year, right?
There wasn't.
Like an 86-yard run by Christian McCaffrey or by George Kittle.
That was the biggest wow play of the year.
Yeah, it.
It was a great play at a crucial time.
The 49ers were down 16 to 10 in the first round of the playoffs, and it was the handoff on a jet sweep to Skyy Moore.
Who pitched it back, and it wasn't a great pitch.
No... To Jennings.
He kind of had to reach back for it, and then Jennings put a really nice pass out there in the wind to Philadelphia.
And Christian McCaffrey made what I still consider the best play I've ever seen him make.
That over-the-shoulder catch, dealing with the wind.
Touchdown!
Mm.
49ers go on to win that game.
Mm-hmm, yeah.
I mean, that's the one that I think going to be talking about for a while.
Yes.
Uh, it'll be on the Christian McCaffrey Highlight reel...
Highlight reel in Canton, Ohio, someday.
Yep.
Uh, my defensive player of the year- The year was Week 5, when the 49ers pulled the upset against the Rams.
Mm-hmm.
At SoFi Stadium.
Alfred Collins, the punch-out near the goal line of Kyren Williams as he was going in for the go-ahead touchdown late in the game.
Mm-hmm.
He not only punched it out, But then he also recovered it.
That was an all-timer.
I briefly thought of a pass breakup Upton Stout had against the Cardinals.
Mm-hmm.
That, that won that game for them.
But, to me, the Alfred Collins play was the best.
Yeah.
I mean, I had that one.
My number two, since you had that as your number one.
Is Eric Kendricks, pass breakup.
Great call.
Right?
Because that kept them alive and sent them to the divisional round.
So, I mean, for a guy who just was signed at the end of November, to be able to make a pass breakup to send the 49ers on to the next round, I mean, that's a game-changing play or a season-changing play.
Yeah, okay, so this one might be obvious.
Best game of the year?
Oh, uh, Niners-Bears.
Okay.
Yeah, you know what?
Um, I- well, the reason I said that's obvious- Mm ... Because it was a playoff game.
I went with the Eagles game.
Mm.
Mm... Because of the excitement and everything.
Mm-hmm... And, and, and knocking off the defending champs.
Mm-hmm.
But there were some really, really exciting games.
Mm-hmm.
The three that come to mind was the game, the victory over the Rams at SoFi.
Mm-hmm, right.
There was that Bears game.
Mm-hmm.
The back-and-forth.
Yeah.
Ping-pong match.
That was really good, and then, of course, the, the divisional, or, I'm sorry, the, uh, wild card.
Mm-hmm.
Round victory over the Eagles.
You can't go wrong with any of those three.
No, no.
All three of those are great.
Um, I chose the Bears game just because it was the energy at Levi's, and you had the entire crowd behind them.
Uh, the energy, the back and forth, the excitement, I mean.
The way they walked off the field and how excited they were.
Uh, to me, that was like the full, complete package of a game.
Yeah, no, definitely.
Uh, and fun to watch.
Mm-hmm.
So fun to watch, right?
I mean, from start to finish.
Yeah, I mean- It was 7-7.
Mm-hmm.
14-7.
Mm-hmm.
14-14, 21-14.
Mm-hmm.
Do you want me to keep going?
Yeah.
All right.
And just everybody in the press box looking, like, "Man!"
Yeah... Oh, my gosh, it... Oh, my God, there he goes again.
Oh, my gosh, there..." You know, so it was just a fun game to cover and watch.
Yeah, and this is probably pretty easy.
Worst game of the year?
Both games against Seattle... At the end of the season, both.
Yeah.
Not just one, both.
Just, uh- But I think, honestly, the divisional round was- Oh...
Probably way worse.
Way, way worse.
Way worse.
Way worse.
At least there was excitement in the- At least, the other game was somewhat close.
Right.
Well, yeah, and week 18, the defense was stops, and, like, there was some cheering involved for the fans.
But there was no reason for any 49ers fans to cheer in that divisional round.
Yeah, it was a pretty good game for about 13 seconds.
Yeah.
I don't even know if it was that much.
Nah, I might...
I mean, no.
As soon as Eddie Panero tried to kick the guy.
Oh, yeah... Rasheed Shahid-Shahid... And, uh, could not, uh.
Mm-hmm... Could not keep bringing him down.
Yeah, that was, that was a horrible game.
Yes, uh, from start to finish.
Yes.
And, uh, you know, I, I... You, you were in the locker room.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, don't you think?
Though, that because it was so lopsided, it was kind of easier to deal with?
Emotionally for the players?
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Like, we've been in locker rooms.
Embarrassing, right?
Right, absolutely, but I think they had enough time, they had an entire half to think about, "Well, you know what?
Look at how far we came with what we had to work with."
And going into the locker room post-game, everyone was like, "You know what?
We did pretty good for with what we had."
I mean, not that they were making any excuses, but I think everybody thought that they were out of it in week six, and for them to make it as far as they did.
I mean, we've said this ad nauseam, but for them to just be able to win games and get in the playoffs and be in the contest for the number one seed at the end of the season.
Yeah.
... That.
I mean, I would never have thought that at week six.
Yeah.
I, I wouldn't have either.
I, I thought that there was a pretty clear line of kind of the haves and have-nots in the NFC.
Mm-hmm.
Um, there really, you know, maybe Detroit.
Detroit's a talented team.
Mm-hmm.
And they did not make the playoffs.
And that's the only team where you could go, "Well, they're pretty good."
Mm-hmm.
You know, they didn't quite make the playoffs, but they're borderline playoffs.
Yeah.
Every team below them wasn't even borderline.
Mm-hmm.
Right?
Right.
And even the winner of the NFC South was not a playoff team.
Right.
Right.
Uh, you know, it came down to the Panthers and the Buccaneers, but turned out those weren't playoff teams.
Mm-hmm.
Um, so the 49ers clearly established toward the top of the NFC.
Mm-hmm.
Even with all, all the stuff they dealt with.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah, I think so.
Too.
Okay, so here's one: Most Improved Player.
That one's a tough one for me.
Um, I looked to the defense, and I thought, "Who struggled in 2024 and found their niche in 2025?"
And to me, it was Ji'Ayir Brown.
You know, He struggled kind of up and down.
He wasn't like a-a, You know, he wasn't making huge plays throughout, but they found a way.
And part of it is Robert Saleh being the defensive coordinator.
For him to make an impact on the game and for him to have gone through the struggles ups and downs of his first couple years, for him to find a starting role.
And also to stay healthy throughout the season.
I mean, I know it's not a huge, "Oh, he was the star player of the defense," but he did make improvements, and, you know, it was...
It's been a challenge for him.
I, I, maybe I cheated.
Uh, I went with Mac Jones.
Yeah, that's a good one.
Obviously- that is a good one.
Obviously, he wasn't with the 49ers in 2024.
Right.
Mm-hmm.
But he was a backup.
Mm-hmm.
With Jacksonville, got into some games when- Yeah... Trevor Lawrence was injured.
Mm-hmm.
49ers bring him in.
There wasn't much competition, right, for his services.
Mm-hmm.
And the 49ers are not 12 and 5 at the end of the season.
You're right, yeah.
Without Mac Jones.
Mm-hmm.
Playing some really good football.
Uh-huh.
Mm-hmm.
Five wins and three losses.
Yes...
While he was a quarterback.
Mm-hmm.
And, I, I think in a lot of ways, probably his performance and his production, and what he brought to the 49ers.
Could easily be considered one of the bigger surprises.
Oh, absolutely.
Absolutely.
I think what's great about Mac Jones's is that he said he loves football again.
I think it... You know, he said he had a couple tough years in that locker clean-out session.
And he said, "You know, he's having fun, and he got to show his personality."
be himself in the locker room.
And that, you know, That's one of the strengths of this team, is how close the locker room is.
How much fun they were having.
And for, I think, any time for a player to go through the struggles that Mac Jones did.
And then to find himself again, to have fun again in the game.
And I think that's happening with Sam Darnold as well.
I think it's tough for top draft picks, especially at the quarterback position.
Going into a tough franchise.
So, you know, It's great to see Mac Jones, you know, thriving again.
So, every year, the San Francisco chapter of the Pro Football Writers, um, we vote on the player who's most cooperative and professional in dealing with the media.
It's called the Gary Niver Award.
And, um, this year, just kind of organically, it happened where Mac Jones shared the award.
Mm-hmm.
They got the same number of votes, And, I mean, I- we don't often have a tie in this either.
I could've stuffed the ballot box to make that happen, because it was so appropriate.
Mm-hmm.
When you think about, you know, Brock Purdy's always been very good in, in dealing with this, his weekly press conferences.
Mm-hmm.
And he's always around in his locker.
Mm-hmm.
If you have a question or just wanna chat.
Mm-hmm.
And then for Mac Jones, oftentimes, It's kind of an awkward situation when the backup quarterback has to get in there.
Mm-hmm.
... And stand up at the podium, and the backup quarterback has to, while he's on the field, be the leader.
Mm-hmm.
And that is not an easy thing.
Right.
Because you gotta tow that line where you're projecting yourself as the leader.
Uh, you know, you're the one, you're the frontman in the organization.
But you also have to be respectful of the guy you're replacing.
Mm-hmm.
And those two handled that situation with aplomb.
Mm-hmm.
Like, they were- Yes...
They both were very good in that, and both very gracious with each other and media, and I thought Mac Jones's sense of humor.
Oh, Yeah... Was so much fun.
When someone would talk about him not looking healthy or not looking agile, he'd be like, "Thank you."
Yeah.
But I- He's got a great sense of humor.
I, I mean, the very first press conference that he came in, 'Cause, I mean, it was a story, and I heard a lot of stuff behind the scenes about when the 49ers, you know, basically.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, led everybody to believe they were selecting Mac Jones with the number three pick.
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
In the 2021 NFL Draft.
And when I asked Mac Jones about, You know, what have those conversations been like, you and Kyle Shanahan?"
And, And he said, "Well, we, we got in a fight."
Yeah.
Like, okay, so it's gonna be like that?
"Okay," he said with a big, Big, uh, big smile on his face.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Okay, best rookie.
The 49ers, uh, we knew they were gonna rely on their rookie class.
I would say this, that probably at the end of the season, they ended up relying on the rookie class less than I thought they would.
Uh, and some of it- Well...
Some of it was injury-related.
Mm-hmm.
Mykel Williams being lost for the season.
Right.
Nick Martin, who, when they drafted him, I thought, "He's gonna be a starter."
But he- Mm-hmm... Couldn't quite work into that role.
Mm-hmm.
Um, but, Um, your rookie, your best rookie?
I went with- there were two that I was thinking of, but I went with Alfred Collins because of just his trajectory from what we thought during training camp, and I personally thought, I'm like, I don't know if this guy's gonna make it on the field, because he missed OTAs.
He missed rookie mini camp.
He had the calf injury.
He was a little overweight because he couldn't work out.
And so there were a lot of questions for him coming into the season.
And I think he outperformed... All of my expectations.
Not that my expectations are something he needs to perform for.
Oh, no, he, he was trying to impress you, Jennifer.
That was his stated goal.
But for him to get to where he was, and to make plays like your best defensive play, I mean, that was an amazing one for him to make it through the entire season healthy and I mean, on the field for a lot of snaps.
I don't think that was the plan for him forward, and he handled it well.
He was gracious at his locker room.
At his locker, um, always willing to talk, um, and just, you know, one of those most improved rookies, and he ended up being really important for this defense at the end.
Yeah, I mean, when I think about, you know, next season, um, as long as everybody's healthy.
I think the 49ers could do a lot worse than having a starting front four that consists of Nick Bosa on one end.
Mm-hmm.
Second-year player Mike Hill Williams on the other end.
Mm-hmm.
Second-year player at defensive tackle, C.J.
West: Mm-hmm.
And second-year tackle, Alfred Collins.
Alfred Collins, Yep.
Like, that's, that's not a bad- That's not a bad, not a bad- No.
Yeah.
So my guy was Upton Stout.
That was my other one, yeah.
Yeah, and, and the reason is because that is such a difficult position.
Mm-hmm.
Playing nickelback.
Mm-hmm.
In the NFL, and especially when you're going up in this division against the likes of Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Mm-hmm.
It's just a really difficult position to play.
And I, I think that Upton Stout, kind of what you were saying about Alfred Collins.
Upton Stout got better and better.
Mm... And better.
And I, I talked to him a lot later in the season, and just his mindset.
You know, just his, um, his willingness to work.
And study, and his love of the game, it all shines through.
It is.
And he's, uh, he has a chance to be a really good player, and I think he showed that late in the season.
Even when things weren't necessarily always going great for that defense.
Mm-hmm.
I j- I think that his consistency, um, He's- it just got better and better.
So, yeah.
He, he gets my- Yeah... My nod for top rookie.
Mm-hmm.
And you think about how long it took for other really good 49ers nickelbacks to get into that role and be successful.
And for him to be doing it in his rookie year.
Deommodore Lenoir, at locker clean-out day, gave such credit to Upton Stout for, Uh, because, especially 'cause he knows how hard it is to play that position.
He did that in 2024.
He said, "To be able to play against the pass, to play against the run, know all of the fits, especially as a rookie coming in," he has been really impressed with how good he played.
Well, there it is.
Folks.
Mm-hmm.
The recap of the 2025 49er season.
Um, it, it was, there, uh, by any, by any standard, it, It was a, it was a really good season.
Um, but, You know, what did Kyle Shanahan say?
Like, he was satisfied or proud to a degree.
Mm-hmm... Because they didn't accomplish everything wanted.
They still won a lot of games, but it's still out there for them.
And, uh, you know, the goal for the team with this young roster, and building, and, and trying to, um, you know, add to the 49ers' trophy case, they, they came up short.
But it was definitely a season that, um, I think people around here will remember for a while.
I think they should have every reason to be proud, and I have a feeling they are.
We are back on 49ers Talk, brought to you by your local Toyota dealers.
Toyota, Let's Go Places.
And Kyle Shanahan is going places.
He's been before.
This will be the fifth different defensive coordinator in five years, as Robert Saleh becomes the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
Which means the 49ers have a vacancy after one season of Robert Saleh.
One and done.
And who's up next?
Yeah, they knew this going into it, though.
Robert Saleh told them when he came in that he did ultimately want to be a head coach again, and so I think they did a, a good job at planning ahead this time.
Previously, when Robert Saleh was here, DeMeco Ryans was kind of the heir apparent.
Obviously, they're still gonna go through the entire interview process, like they have to legally.
Um, but Gus Bradley is a guy who they've had in the building, who understands the system.
He is the same type of enthusiastic coach with a lot of energy.
He's already built relationships with players, so he is the heir apparent for the defensive coordinator position.
I- I mean, on staff.
Right, right.
Now, they, they still are gonna interview some people around the league.
Of course... As they have to, as you mentioned.
Right.
Um, and so it, It certainly sounded, when Kyle Shanahan spoke to the media on Wednesday, that if he stays on staff, it's gonna be Gus Bradley.
Mm-hmm.
Um, there's a part of me that thought, Gosh, you know, What about Daniel Bullock, the defensive back coach?
Mm.
And then I thought, "What about K.J.
Wright?"
But he's kind of entry-level.
Uh, quality control.
Mm-hmm.
To me, it's a good fit for K.J.
Wright to go to Tennessee with Robert Saleh, 'cause I think... Mm... Saleh is gonna be more hands-on.
Mm... As defensive coordinator in his second head coaching job.
Right.
But the outside candidates that really come to mind, there, there's three in particular, and I think I'd probably rank them in this order.
I'd go, uh, Raheem Morris.
Mm-hmm.
Right.
Um, former head coach of the Falcons.
Who Shanahan has a long history with, really, um, they, those two really get along, and he has a lot of respect for Raheem Morris.
Um, and then I guess, and then a step down, I'd go, Uh, Jim Schwartz and Jonathan Gannon.
And, and the reason I'd say those is because, you know, they don't come from that lineage necessarily that.
Mm.
You know, Shanahan hasn't worked with them, but those are both guys that he has spoken the past as defensive minds that he has a lot of respect for.
Yeah, I think outside the building, I would lean towards Raheem Morris also as a top candidate outside the building, just because every time... Kyle Shanahan faces a Raheem Morris-led defense, he's like, Oh, I have so much respect.
And they do know each other really well.
And he's a guy that they've tried to bring into the staff multiple times before.
It's funny, I was in contact with somebody on Tuesday night.
And, uh, from what I understand, Robert Saleh thought he was gonna get or wanted to get Mike McDaniel as his offensive coordinator.
Mm-hmm.
Instead, Mike McDaniel comes back to California.
Yes... And as long as he doesn't get a head coaching job, he'll be on Jim Harbaugh's staff.
Yes.
And I immediately thought, "What an odd combination of those two."
But can't you see them both?
Like, rubbing their hands together and like, "Okay, what about this, and this, and this?"
Absolutely.
It's like, I mean, Yeah, just the two biggest personalities, right?
Who's gonna drive...?
The other one more batty?
Will, will, will McDaniel get under Shana- or Harbaugh's skin, or vice versa?
Oh, I would love to be a fly on the wall!
My God...
When they are discussing game plans.
Or just discussing anything, yeah... anything.
Yeah, what they're gonna have for lunch.
Right.
Okay, so other stuff that as the football season comes to an end, and now you start to flip the page and, and look to off-season happenings.
Um, no big surprise, but John Lynch did say on Wednesday, "It is fair to say that Brandon Aiyuk's time with the 49ers is over."
Mm-hmm.
Um, and he also said that, yes, because the 49ers did not or are or on the hook for 27 million in guaranteed money, it will impact how the team is able to spend this off-season.
Right, which I think that's a great thing.
Uh, when you're talking about building a roster, and they had to... You know, crazy how they had to build a roster on the run in 2025.
Um, but looking ahead, yeah, it's, um...
I mean, I think Kyle Shanahan gave his most sincere and, you know, heartfelt answer about Brandon Aiyuk that we've heard.
Um, throughout the season, he was like, "Oh, we haven't heard from him.
We haven't heard from him."
But this year, uh, time at the kind of roundup, He was like, "You know, it's- we don't understand it."
and we continue to not understand."
And it seemed like, You know, they wanted to try.
He reached out.
He reached out again, and he's like, "At, at some point," it is what it is."
Yeah.
"And you can't make contact."
And as much as they would have loved to have a receiver like Brandon Aiyuk on the field.
On their roster, it just was not to be.
No.
Uh, yeah, I think there's legitimate concern about- Mm-hmm.
What, what the future holds for Brandon Aiyuk, but it won't be with San Francisco 49ers.
Right.
Uh, one question about another wide receiver.
Uh, Jauan Jennings sounded like a man on locker clean-out day.
Mm-hmm.
Who knew he was going to be leaving that locker room for the last time.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, and he was emotional.
He had tears in his eyes talking about his journey from when he first came to the 49ers.
Learning that it was Santa Clara, not San Francisco.
Yeah.
Thought it was gonna be San Francisco.
He's like, It's definitely not."
Um, but, you know, they had their ups and downs at the beginning 2025 season, where he wanted to have a multi-year extension.
And for a lot of money.
Yes.
I might add.
Yes, and it did not work out, and he came in and really played with his heart.
Very injured, um, trying to put his best film out there for whatever comes next.
And again, since we mentioned Robert Saleh earlier, don't you think that's kind of the perfect fit for Jauan Jennings, for Robert Saleh to bring in a guy that, You know, a tone-setter kind of guy?
Mm-hmm.
A guy that plays hard.
Blocks to the echo of the whistle, as they say.
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
And somebody who grew up in Tennessee and went to the University of Tennessee that has cap space.
That is- so a very young, talented quarterback in Cam Ward, the number one pick.
So you instantly get a wide receiver you can count on and trust that will get into the playbook and play his heart out.
Yeah, absolutely.
Mm-hmm.
Okay, we've avoided this conversation weeks now, just because, frankly, I think there's an element of, Uh, tinfoil hat stuff...
Going on here.
But, um, John Lynch handled a question about the electrical substation.
Which has been in Santa Clara since, I believe, 1986.
Mm-hmm.
49ers moved right next door to the electrical substation in 1988.
So, and this isn't a new thing.
I think people misconstrued.
Like, "Oh, the 49ers haven't been there since Levi's Stadium opened," right?
Right.
But this has been going on for almost 40 years.
Right.
I think people assume that the 49ers moved to Santa Clara, next to Levi's Stadium, when Levi's Stadium was built.
And that is not the case.
Yes, and so, I mean, he, he handled it in a, uh, a way that would not offend.
Mm-hmm.
Conspiracy people.
Right.
Um, and, and just was like, you know, they, they take player health and safety very seriously.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, they have looked into it.
They'll continue to look into it, and I mean, just...
Uh, and I, I'm not an expert, quite clearly.
Uh, I doubt that you are.
Jennifer.
Don't wanna, like, put that out there.
That you're not an expert on.
No, I... Electrical substations.
I mean, I was told as a child not to stand in front of the microwave when I used it.
Yeah.
But other than that, yeah.
And you did it?
I still do every now and then.
Well, and you turned out okay.
It just happens.
I'm still alive.
Uh, but in the...
The stuff I've read is there's, you know, there's been no documented correlation.
No.
Mm-hmm.
Evidence of anything.
I think a lot of the- a lot of it has been debunked.
You know, the theories have been debunked, and, you know, I'm not sure the person who put it out there uh, is any more or less qualified.
Mm.
... Than anybody else to talk about it.
But it was addressed.
Right?
And, um...
I think the, the major takeaway was that football is a violent sport.
Mm-hmm.
And people get injured playing football.
And my, do you want to hear my conspiracy theory?
Sure.
It's not really a conspiracy theory.
Okay.
I, I just think that when you look at why- think there's an element.
Every team has some degree of luck or bad luck.
Mm-hmm.
And, you know, heck, even in the, Uh, playoff game, you know, Zach Charbonnet sustains a, a torn ACL for the Seattle Seahawks.
He's out for the season.
The Bears, the previous week, had two very serious injuries for players.
I, I think adding a 17th regular season game, and I think if we want to get specific to the 49ers.
And the fact of the matter is, they were playing with significantly less rest than their opposition over the '23 and 24 seasons.
Mm-hmm.
For sure.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and, and in talking to doctors, they think, you know, recovery, travel.
There's probably not a team in the NFL that travels more than the 49ers.
Maybe Seattle.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, just because of, of positioning in the United States...
Positioning in the United States.
Right.
And then, you know, later in the season, You know, the NFL had the 49ers playing on three short weeks.
Uh, out of a four-week period.
Mm-hmm.
So, you know, that, that goes some way, I think, toward explaining some of the injuries.
Now, I know people say, "Well, they had injuries leading..." You know, Before that, um, you know, the Kittle injury happened in a, uh, you know, when the 49ers were in a that midst of, of short weeks.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, but, you know, there's other injuries like, you know, Fred Warner.
You can't tell me that, um... You know, it's a broken bone and a dislocated ankle.
Mm-hmm.
I mean, that- stuff happens.
Right.
And so, um, maybe I'm being naive to think that, um, injuries happen to every team.
No, I'm not.
They do happen to every team.
They do happen to every team.
But I think what separates this year with the 49ers is that they have to their absolute star players.
Best players.
Mm-hmm.
Yep, it's players that are household names in homes that are not 49ers.
Fans.
Yeah.
Right, so it's, it's names that everybody knows.
That's a football fan or even not a football fan, because You know, I think you look at George, and George Kittle.
And he's on all the commercials.
Yeah, you know.
Even if you're not a, Fred Warner's kind of a crossover.
Right?
Star, too.
Mm-hmm.
Right.
Yep, absolutely.
Okay, so let's go through it.
Kittle, sounding good for him.
Yeah, yeah.
So to explain George Kittle's injury is, how he explained it to us at, uh, locker clean-out day.
Is the injury happened at the base of the calf muscle, which is where the calf muscle attaches to the Achilles, which is the soleus.
So, even if you feel the back of your leg, that part- Should I get up and show?
You can.
Like, describe, show my leg.
Just pull your pant leg up.
Yeah.
Um, you can feel the back of your leg, and it is softer there than when you go down near your heel.
Where it's the Achilles, where it is very dense, uh, dense.
Uh, body parts, uh, much harder.
It's much harder to heal that part.
And when we talk about guys that have had Achilles injuries, Richard Sherman had that Achilles injury.
They had to drill a screw into it to hold it in.
Place.
That's kind of in the heel, right?
Right.
Yeah.
So when it's in your heel, you can feel that it's a much harder part of your body.
Up near the calf muscle.
There's much more blood flow.
It's softer.
You don't have to drill into it, so it's a much.
And excuse me, the calf muscle is the soleus?
Right.
Yeah, okay.
It comes down to the soleus, which attaches to the Achilles.
So that makes it a much quicker healing process because there's more oxygen flow.
Blood flow, more oxygen to heal the injury, and again, no screw.
Richard Sherman had a second procedure to have the screw removed.
'cause it was causing irritation and pain.
Okay, so all things considered, and they don't, they don't want to put a timeframe on this.
Right?
But it's sounding pretty positive.
Mm-hmm.
Pretty optimistic.
Right.
That Kittle will either, um, not miss much time.
Mm-hmm.
Next season or miss no time at all.
Right.
So Achilles injuries generally are w- clocked at 9 to 12 months.
So the best-case scenario would be nine months.
Which would put you in September, so... 'Cause he did it January 12th, I think the surgery was, and so- But, I- Mm.
What is... Am I wrong that it sounds like it might even be?
Could be... On the earlier side than that.
Right, like six.
Seven, eight months?
Could be.
Potentially.
Right.
Potentially.
Could be.
We, we'll, we'll find out.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, Bosa's, Uh, ACL was a clean ACL.
Mm-hmm.
And so what's his prognosis?
Right, so, uh, I asked John and Kyle about when he could be returning back.
And all things considered, he's recovering on schedule, which hopefully will put him back around that same time, training camp time.
And then Mikele Williams?
Um, also, he got off his crutches about three or four weeks ago.
They also think that he is recovering well.
And then, Uh, Alfred Collins, sounds like he's gonna have some sort of shoulder procedure.
Mm-hmm.
Yep, so he walked off the field in Seattle, holding his left arm, and it is a shoulder injury.
He did go back into the game, but it sounds like he's going to need a procedure to make it- Yeah, and I think he was dealing with stuff.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, shoulder stuff, throughout the season.
Right.
As well.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, I mean, Fred Warner's healthy.
Mm-hmm.
Fred Warner's ready to go.
He said that he felt like he could have played, but the plan was that he would be made available for the NFC Championship game, if the 49ers made it that far.
They didn't, but they stuck with that plan.
Mm-hmm.
But he, he- it sounds like, I mean, there's gonna be no restrictions on what he can do in the off-season.
Right.
It looks like...
I mean, we watched him in that first practice back, and... You know.
Yeah.
Bouncing around.
Yep, yep.
Uh, you, you, uh, Nick Martin.
Nick Martin, um, they were unsure whether he actually came out of the concussion whether he was just about to the final stages of it.
Uh, but man, what a tough break for a guy who really, I think.
Like you mentioned earlier, you thought he was going to have a role.
I think we all did.
He kind of went through some ups and downs.
And then, you know, right when he was getting into starting to play and get snaps, um, really horrible concussion that took him out for the remainder of the season.
Sure.
Um, never good to see that.
So hopefully he's on the mend.
And then, um... Kyle Shanahan did say that they would- he would be surprised if Mac Jones is dealt off-season.
Mm-hmm.
And, and one of the things is, you know, they're not in the business of letting good players get away.
Um, I wonder if he was talking about that from a position of knowledge.
Like, you know, at this point, teams would've already been asking him.
Mm... Like, "Tell us more about Mac Jones."
Um, I've, I've kind of felt like, You know, all these teams have had their cracks at Mac Jones.
Mm-hmm.
You know, they, they could have traded for him.
In 2024.
Mm-hmm.
They could have signed him as a free agent.
Year ago, and the 49ers got him.
They signed him for a two-year deal.
Um, he- and he was very good.
Would a team, in essence, pay him twice?
Would a, would a team... Or pay for him twice, I should say.
Would a team give up a valuable draft pick or two to the 49ers to then acquire Mac Jones?
And then if you're thinking about him as a starter, you're gonna give him a new contract.
So I've always been kinda, uh, skeptical.
Mm-hmm.
Whether Mac Jones would have a market outside of this.
But he believes he's a starter.
Right.
And he should after the way he played.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I mean, he assimilated into the 49ers locker room and the offense very smoothly.
Uh, you got to see, you know, him having fun out there, and he played some good football.
He won games for the 49ers, and they would not have been in the playoffs without Mac Jones.
Okay, then special teams, the 49ers did make some.
Uh, some moves to improve special teams, and it paid off.
Other than the opening kickoff of the divisional round.
Yeah, but that's when for it to break down.
But, um, You know, Eddie Pinero is a free agent.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, Thomas Morstead, the punter, is a free agent.
John Wicks is a free agent.
Um, special teams pro bowler Luke Gifford is a free agent, and Skyy Moore is a free agent.
Mm-hmm.
So there's a couple of 40-somethings there, right?
Yep.
Or 38-somethings.
Mm-hmm.
30- Yep, yep.
But I did ask them specifically, I'm like, "Are those two, Thomas Morstead and John Wicks, who are approaching 40 quickly.
Have they spoken about retirement or are... And they said, Nope, they're both interested in coming back.
So, um, Obviously, I'm sure they would love to have those two guys.
They're so consistent.
I think when you looked at why they went with guys who are a little bit more seasoned, 'cause they wanted to make sure that everything was consistent for whoever kicker they had, and obviously Eddie Pinero found, um, found his way to the 49ers and played really well.
Um, in some pretty crazy, uh, environments, including Philadelphia at the end there.
Yeah.
Um, and when we look ahead to next season, There are two rookies who did not play much at all, who I think can be impact players next season, and they're both named Jordan.
Yeah, I was gonna say, wait, wait- Yeah... Are they Jordans?
Yeah.
Um, the running back, Jordan James.
Mm-hmm.
Kyle Shanahan speaks very highly of him.
Yes.
And it's quite clear, based on what we saw, that, um, that he leapfrogged Isaac Guerendo.
Mm.
On the running back depth chart.
Mm-hmm.
And then there's Jordan Watkins, who, when you think about it, if Jordan Jennings is not back, and we know that Brandon Aiyuk will not be back.
Mm-hmm.
I mean, you're looking at, it's Ricky Pearsall, and it's Jordan Watkins.
Right?
Mm.
I mean, there's also DeMarcus Robinson.
Uh, he misses a lot of assignments, but Jordan Watkins needs...
He needs to take that step, and maybe even a guy like Jacob Cowing.
Who didn't.
Mm-hmm.
Play at all.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, you know, could be a slot receiver.
So that's an area where, Uh, the 49ers, well, they'll have some money to spend because of Aiyuk's voided contract.
Uh, whether it's the draft or maybe free agency or a trade, uh, wide receiver's an area where they- Mm-hmm.
Need help.
So Jordan Watkins taking that step would be hugely beneficial to this team.
Right.
Uh, both Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins had incredibly productive off-seasons, uh, training camp, you know.
Looking like they were connecting really nicely with both Brock Purdy and Mac Jones.
I remember George Kittle back in training camp was like, We have that, that wide receiver," and he didn't know his name yet.
But he was making an impact enough to get George Kittle's attention.
Uh, so I mean, both those guys are gonna have a chance to.
You know, get back into it, but they've got to stay healthy.
Both of those two.
Jacob Cowing with a hamstring injury that, You know, they didn't even open up his practice window until the very end of the season.
Never had him active for a game.
Um, and then Jordan Watkins, who, you know, was active there at the end, but was a healthy scratch.
Um, once he did get healthy, just because I think they had established who they had at wide receiver with Kendrick Bourne coming in late, um, DeMarcus Robinson and Ricky Pearsall when he was healthy.
But yeah, that wide receiver room is something that needs to get improved, see improvement next year.
They need to increase their team speed on offense.
They just- Mm-hmm.
I know you talked earlier about the wide receiver, uh, position.
Mm-hmm.
They just didn't have any speed.
Mm-hmm.
You know?
Right, they couldn't get man cover- that beat man coverage.
That's Ricky Pearsall's job.
He didn't do it very well with the injured knee.
Uh, we saw maybe a few little flashes of it, but really not much.
All, all in the first.
Mm-hmm.
Three games of the season.
Mm-hmm, yep.
First three-and-a-half games of the season.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
All right, well, there's a, uh, There's a wrap on this episode of 49ers Talk.
We will have plenty to talk about as this se- uh, this off-season gets going, and the first things first.
Um, number one on the plate for Kyle Shanahan is to solidify that coaching a, uh, a fifth defensive coordinator in five years, with Robert Saleh moving on to the Tennessee Titans.
She's Jennifer, I'm Matt.
Thanks so much for tuning in.
