49ers Look to Rebound from Dismal, Injury Plagued 2024 Season

From a youth movement to their veteran leadership, the 49ers will be testing a little bit of everything as they move forward.

A lot has changed in 16 months. Walking off the field after a heartbreaking defeat in Super Bowl 58, it was easy for anyone to believe the 2024 iteration of the San Francisco 49ers would be able to retain their standing in the NFC and find a way back to a deep playoff run and championship opportunity. History would have other plans. Injuries, contract disputes, and off-field issues would hang over the team throughout 2024. This led to an uncharacteristic 6-11 record for a team that had been so close to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

     The season was a disappointment, and as the calendar turned to December, it became clear that the 49ers were not going to be playoff-bound, leaving fans to be more excited for the off-season. Change was coming quickly upon season’s end, with the firing of two coordinators and the trade of star wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders. The return of Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator instantly brought hopes of returning dominance to that side of the ball that ranked 29th in the league in 2024. Saleh will have plenty of work to do as Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Charvarius Ward, Javon Hargrave, and Leonard Floyd all departed in free agency. The team would look to primarily replace them through the draft; thus, beginning the youth movement in the Bay.

     The 49ers gifted their first five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft to Saleh’s defense. With the selection of first-round pick Mykel Williams to pair with star pass rusher Nick Bosa, as well as run-stopping defensive tackles in Alfred Collins and CJ West, it was abundantly clear that improving a run defense that was porous at best in 2024 is the top priority in Santa Clara.  This clearly was a priority for the 49ers as they ranked 18th in the league in run defense in 2024, after being a top three unit in 2023.

After what appeared to be a cash-cutting spring, the commitment afterward was to bridge the core of this roster to the future. George Kittle is now (deservedly) the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. Fred Warner was extended to lead the defense. The largest contract in team history was handed out to quarterback Brock Purdy, ensuring he’ll command the offense for the foreseeable future. Factor in the returns of a healthy Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams, and the vibes around the 2025 49ers feel right.

With a last place schedule featuring matchups against only four playoff teams from 2024, the path for a return to postseason is within reach. The 49ers return to playoff football will depend on how quickly the youth of the roster adapts to the NFL game, and if the 49ers can beat one of their toughest opponents in Kyle Shanahan’s tenure as head coach: attrition.