The San Francisco 49ers' incredible season is over.
This, after the Seattle Seahawks wholly dominated the Niners 41-6 in the divisional round of the playoffs, ending what had otherwise been an unreal season by head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co.
Too bad the final outcome will be the last memory fans will have of the 2025 interation of San Francisco, since all the things the 49ers managed to pull off over the course of the year in spite of so much adversity truly make it a remarkable effort before Saturday night at Lumen Field.
After all, the Niners were a mere two weeks removed from competing against that same Hawks team for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture.
Still, despite upending the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round a week before, San Francisco saw just how difficult things would be against a Seattle squad that enjoyed a bye the same weekend, and the Seahawks managed a 95-yard touchdown return off the opening kickoff and were up 17-0 by the time the first quarter ended.
If that wasn't an ominous sign, it'd be hard to identify another.
49ers fully outclassed by superior (and rested) Seahawks team
Losing to the Hawks in Week 18 cost the 49ers some much-needed rest, and it arguably cost Shanahan's offense one of its best weapons in tight end George Kittle, who suffered a torn Achilles in the Wild Card win over Philly but wouldn't have even played, had the Niners won their regular-season finale instead.
Injuries, of course, are going to be a theme for San Francisco's season, and one can fairly wonder what the fate would have been if linebacker Fred Warner, defensive ends Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and others had been healthy all year and available.
Unfortunately, "what ifs?" don't exist. The reality is Seattle was healthier, better rested and took full advantage of the context.
This is evidenced by the final score and the fact the game-winning score was literally the opening-kickoff touchdown.
It's disappointing, of course. The 49ers weren't supposed to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender after a tumultuous offseason that saw plenty of star power depart. Combined with the slew of brutal injuries all year long, perhaps the Niners shouldn't have even sniffed a postseason berth.
But they did.
And it's a shame it'll all be overshadowed by what went down against the now-advancing Seahawks in the divisional round.