This season marked the return of Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator, replacing Nick Sorensen, who was fired by the team after a single season.[1] Saleh had previously coordinated the 49ers' defense from 2017 to 2020, after which he spent three full seasons as the head coach of the New York Jets before being relieved of his position just five games into the 2024 season.[2][3]
The 49ers entered the playoffs as a Wild Card team for the first time since 2021. They opened their playoff run by pulling off an upset and defeating the defending championPhiladelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round. They then faced the division rival and top-seeded Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round, where their season ended with a 41–6 blowout loss to the eventual Super Bowl champions, their second-most lopsided playoff defeat in franchise history behind only their 49–3 loss to the New York Giants during the 1986 NFC Divisional Round.
At the end of the season running back Christian McCaffrey won the AP Comeback Player of the Year award as he finished sixth in the league with 102 receptions for 924 yards to go with 1,202 rushing yards and 17 total touchdowns (10 rushing and 7 receiving). This was after he was limited to just four games the previous season.[6] Head coach Kyle Shanahan was also nominated for AP NFL Coach of the Year for leading the 49ers to 12 wins and a playoff berth despite the team finishing with the 3rd most man games lost to injuries,[7] but Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel ultimately won the award.
The San Francisco 49ers drew an average home attendance of 71,422, the 9th-highest of all NFL teams.[8]
Offseason
Roster changes
Free agency: The 49ers entered free agency with the following:[9]
↑The 49ers were awarded an additional third-round selection as compensation for the Houston Texans' hiring of former 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans as head coach.[67]
↑The 49ers traded WR Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders in exchange for a fifth-round selection (147th overall).[68]
↑The 49ers forfeited a fifth-round selection as punishment for administrative payroll accounting errors that occurred during the 2022 season.[69]
12The 49ers traded a sixth-round selection (187th overall) and RB Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a fifth-round selection (160th overall) and a 2026 sixth-round selection.[70]
49ers kicker Eddy Piñeiro made a game-winning 35-yard field goal as time expired, giving the 49ers a 16–15 victory.[72] Despite the win, it was later revealed that defensive end Nick Bosa would miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee.[73]
Week 4: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 4: Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers– Game summary
SF – Christian McCaffrey – 6 receptions, 92 yards, TD
The 49ers lost to the Jaguars for the first time since the 2005 season and recorded their first-ever home loss to them.[74] Following the game, Jaguars coach Liam Coen and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh had to be separated during a heated postgame exchange, after Saleh made a remark earlier in the week about the Jaguars 'legally stealing signals.'[75]
Week 5: at Los Angeles Rams
Week 5: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams– Game summary
With the hard-fought win, the 49ers improve to 4–1 while securing their first win over the Rams since Week 2 of 2023, snapping a three-game losing streak to them.
Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 6: San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers– Game summary
With the loss, the 49ers fell to 4–2. Following the game, it was revealed that linebacker Fred Warner would miss the remainder of the season after suffering a dislocated and broken ankle midway through the game.[76]
Week 7: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 7: Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers– Game summary
Levi's Stadium during the 49ers' Week 7 game against Atlanta, showing the field just before the team's second-quarter touchdown by Christian McCaffrey.
The 49ers rebounded from their loss to Tampa Bay to improve to 5–2 overall and 2–1 against the NFC South.
Week 8: at Houston Texans
Week 8: San Francisco 49ers at Houston Texans– Game summary
The 49ers faced off against Texans' head coach DeMeco Ryans, who served on San Francisco's coaching staff from 2017 to 2022.[77] The 49ers ended an NFL-record streak of 14 consecutive games without an interception, spanning 469 pass attempts, when cornerback Deommodore Lenoir intercepted Texans quarterback C. J. Stroud on the final play of the first half.[78] The 49ers also finished with 10 rushing attempts, setting a franchise-low record.[79]
With their first loss to Houston since 2009, the 49ers dropped to 5–3 and 0–2 against the AFC South.
Week 9: at New York Giants
Week 9: San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants– Game summary
Brock Purdy made his return after suffering a toe injury on September 28 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.[80] Although the 49ers were outgained by more than 200 yards, they still dominated the Cardinals.[81] With the victory, San Francisco surpassed its win total from the previous season.
Week 12: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 12: Carolina Panthers at San Francisco 49ers– Game summary
Running back Christian McCaffrey faced his former team, the Carolina Panthers, whom he played for from 2017 to 2022, for the first time since being traded during the 2022 season.[82] McCaffrey recorded 142 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown, helping the 49ers overcome three first-half interceptions by Purdy to secure the win.[83]
Late in the game, Panthers safety Tre'von Moehrig struck Jauan Jennings in the groin following a run play. After the game, Jennings responded by punching Moehrig in the helmet. The NFL subsequently suspended Moehrig for one game without pay, while Jennings was fined $12,172 for his actions.[84]
With the win, the 49ers finished 3–1 against the NFC South.
Week 13: at Cleveland Browns
Week 13: San Francisco 49ers at Cleveland Browns– Game summary
IND – Blake Grupe 51-yard field goal, 8:16. 49ers 31–20. Drive: 7 plays, 33 yards, 2:42.
SF – Eddy Pineiro 38-yard field goal, 4:02. 49ers 34–20. Drive: 8 plays, 49 yards, 4:14.
Fourth quarter
IND – Jonathan Taylor 1-yard run (Blake Grupe kick), 12:41. 49ers 34–27. Drive: 12 plays, 65 yards, 6:21.
SF – Christian McCaffrey 9-yard pass from Brock Purdy (Eddy Pineiro kick), 7:37. 49ers 41–27. Drive: 10 plays, 70 yards, 5:04.
SF – Dee Winters 74-yard interception return (Eddy Pineiro kick), 3:26. 49ers 48–27.
Top passers
SF – Brock Purdy – 25/34, 295 yards, 5 TD, INT
IND – Philip Rivers – 23/35, 277 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
SF – Christian McCaffrey – 21 rushes, 117 yards
IND – Jonathan Taylor – 16 rushes, 46 yards, TD
Top receivers
SF – George Kittle – 7 receptions, 115 yards, TD
IND – Alec Pierce – 4 receptions, 86 yards, 2 TD
Earlier in the afternoon slate of games, the Lions' loss to the Steelers meant the 49ers clinched a playoff berth.[85]
The 49ers' offense dominated the Colts' defense. Brock Purdy completed 25-of-34 passes for 295 yards as San Francisco totaled 440 yards of offense. Christian McCaffrey rushed 21 times for 117 yards and added six receptions for 29 yards and two touchdowns. George Kittle recorded seven receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown, and the team did not punt at any point during the blowout win against the Colts.[86] It was the first time the 49ers beat the Colts since 2001. With the win, the 49ers finished 2–2 against the AFC South (3–2 against the AFC) and 7–2 on the road.[87]
Week 17: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 17: Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers– Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Bears
14
7
7
10
38
49ers
14
14
7
7
42
at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Date: December 28
Game time: 5:20 p.m. PST
Game weather: Sunny, 53°F (12°C)
Game attendance: 71,836
Referee: Alex Moore
TV announcers(NBC): Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark
The Bears and 49ers engaged in a shootout, with the game decided on the final play when Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ last-ditch pass to wide receiver Jahdae Walker fell incomplete in the end zone from San Francisco's 2-yard line, sealing the 49ers’ victory. With the win, the 49ers improved to 12–4 (8–2 against the NFC), putting them one win away from clinching the NFC West title, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the entire NFL playoffs as the NFC's No. 1 seed.
Week 18: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 18: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers– Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Seahawks
7
3
0
3
13
49ers
0
3
0
0
3
at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Date: January 3
Game time: 5:00p.m. PST
Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 57°F (14°C)
Game attendance: 71,836
Referee: Bill Vinovich
TV announcers(ESPN/ABC): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge
The 49ers' high-powered offense was stuffed by the Seahawks defense, being limited to 173 total yards, their fewest in any regular-season game under head coach Kyle Shanahan. With the loss, the 49ers dropped to 12–5, finishing 9–3 against the NFC (4–2 against the NFC West), and 5–3 at home. They were also denied the division title, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage through Super Bowl 60.
With the Rams defeating the Cardinals the following day, the 49ers fell to the sixth seed and were scheduled to face the Eagles in the Wild Card Round.[88]
With the upset win, the 49ers earned their third Wild-Card victory in 5 years, and defeated the Eagles in the postseason for the first time since 1996. Unfortunately for San Francisco, tight end George Kittle left the game in the second quarter with what was later revealed to be a season-ending Achilles tear.
NFC Divisional Playoffs: at (1) Seattle Seahawks
NFC Divisional Playoffs: (6) San Francisco 49ers at (1) Seattle Seahawks– Game summary
With their first Divisional Round loss since 2002, the 49ers' season came to an end. This also marked their first playoff loss to the Seahawks since 2013 and their first loss in Seattle since 2021. Beginning with the Seahawks' Rashid Shaheed returning the kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown on the opening play, they were dominated in all phases of the game. The 35-point margin of defeat marked their second largest playoff loss ever in franchise history, only behind a 49–3 shellacking against the Giants in the 1986 NFC Divisional Round.
Notes
12Chicago finished ahead of Philadelphia based on head-to-head victory.
123Carolina finished ahead of Tampa Bay and Atlanta based on head-to-head record (Carolina 3–1 to Tampa Bay 2–2 and Atlanta 1–3).
12LA Rams finished ahead of San Francisco based on common games (LA Rams 9–3 to San Francisco 8–4 against: Arizona, Atlanta, Carolina, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Tennessee).
12Minnesota finished ahead of Detroit based on head-to-head sweep.
12Tampa Bay finished ahead of Atlanta based on common games (Tampa Bay 6–6 to Atlanta 5–7 against: Arizona, Buffalo, Carolina, LA Rams, Miami, New England, New Orleans, NY Jets, San Francisco and Seattle).