Why 2026 could be the San Francisco 49ers' final championship run
The 49ers' aging offensive core may have enough left for one more playoff push, but Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, George Kittle and Mike Evans make the long-term outlook increasingly precarious.
Video Transcript
A year from now, I begin to buy into that theory a whole lot more.
So I think the age issue and why it is a little bit flawed for this section of this show for me, for Easton, is that I don't think that's as much a short-term issue as it is the next step of our conversation.
I think that's where the long-term implications come into play.
All right, so you think, Ryan, that this is their last shot.
2026 might be this core of the 49ers' last chance, and then after this year, you start to- Yeah join on Easton and I's side of the line.
100%, yeah.
I, I think that this is, because after this year, I look at this team and I say, Christian McCaffrey, I believe, is 31 years old as a running back, and we just talked, you talked about Austin, that he is the engine of this team, and I agree.
He is the engine of this team.
The problem is, is that we also saw the engine of the team not be incredibly efficient last season.
Like, his counting stats were not bad, but when you talk about yards per carry and yards after contact and all those numbers that detail just efficiency as a running back, it's dwindling down.
So Christian McCaffrey is a ball- Agreed.
Who are you arguing for?
Are you making Ryan come over?
Yeah, yeah.
No, I'm talking for the long term.
Yeah.
I'm talking for the long term.
I'll, I'll add this.
I'll add this.
Yeah.
not only are, are the three of us are all dads, and, Christian McCaffrey's a new dad, and he's about to become another, about to have number two.
Like- I don't know if you guys saw that, but like- I did, yes I don't know when that due date is, but if it's gonna be in the middle of the season or not, but having a newborn again after just living through newborn life, I can't imagine what that feels like.
But- So in summary, after the Niners are uncompetitive in their division and miss the playoffs this year, then Ryan will come to my side of the aisle.
I, I, I think the long-term implications of the age is where that factor comes in a lot more at play.
For me, the 49ers feel like a really nice car that has been durable for a long time, but you make that last trip, and at the very end of the trip, you're like, "I don't think this thing can make another trip again.
I think we're done here.
I think it's time to buy a new car."
I- And the reset, I don't know how it's gonna happen, but the engine of this car- No is Christian McCaffrey, who is already- Yes trending downward.
You have the left tackle, Trent Williams, who might be the best left tackle I've ever seen.
It's, it's arguable.
In terms of, like, him verse Joe Thomas, verse Orlando Pace, Jonathan Ogden of this era, like, he is fantastic.
Mm-hmm.
He's what, 37?
Something- like, he has already played well beyond his- 38 age bracket should.
38.
So he is an older player for his position as well.
He might be gone after this year.
Who knows?
You also are going to a wide receiver.
Is Mike Evans the traditional Mike Evans that we've seen, or is Mike Evans more of the last year's version, where he was banged up all year?
I mean, so after this year, I think that that trip around the sun is really going to start to take its toll on this team because unfortunately, the most important parts of this team are aging very rapidly.
And the problem with the Brock Purdy conversation I initially had, Brock Purdy, I think, is a floor quarterback.
Like, he builds it up, and it's like, okay, this is standard.
The problem is, is that when you don't have Christian McCaffrey anymore and George Kittle is a dwin- is a dwindling light of himself, and Trent Williams maybe retires, then it's like, is Brock Purdy enough to be the engine that I just talked about Christian McCaffrey as currently?
And I do not necessarily think that Purdy is an engine after those players are no longer their peak selves anymore.
Yeah.
Real quick, just to toss in here.
So much Cars talk.
The 2026 49ers are Lightning McQueen in Cars 3.
Like, it's a new age, buddy.
You're, you're washed.
It, it's too late for you.
I was gonna say, Ryan's going on the last road trip, happy and smiley and excited to have a great time with the family on the road trip.
Easton's going into the road trip, and I'm right there with Easton, being like, "I don't know if we're gonna get there safely."
Like, "We might have to call somebody."
E- East- Easton wants to rent a car, and I'm t- I'm trusting the old, the old Toyota to make it on the trip.
I'm sitting here going like, "Is our AAA membership active?"
"Or do we need to make sure we have that set up before we hit the road?"
and yeah, make sure you get all the maintenance done.
Just for the record here, Mike Evans is turning 33 in the month of August, and George Kittle is turning 33 in the month of October.
And I think it's just, I, I am with Easton.
I don't think the Niners are gonna be in the, I think they'll be in the, in the hunt e- area of the graphic on the December 3rd week 14 spread, but- Mm-hmm that's about it.
I, I don't really think they make it to legitimate playoff contention because of the division, because of everything else going around, and Kyle Shanahan being up in the air.
