The San Francisco 49ers entered the 2025 season with expectations through the roof, and after several years of deep playoff runs along with one of the most talented rosters, it seemed like a logical choice to pencil them in for Super Bowl 60, ironically played at Levi's Stadium.
For a team expected to contend, their final loss to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks, felt more like a blunt wake-up call.
So did the Hawks' eventual Super Bowl victory on the Niners' own turf.
Instead of cruising back to the Super Bowl, San Francisco went through a roller-coaster year filled with injuries, inconsistency and crucial losses. The Niners didn't just lose in the 2025 divisional round to Seattle, they were absolutely pummeled by a final score of 41-6. What was supposed to be another extensive playoff run ended in frustration, mainly due to missed opportunities and an extremely banged-up unit.
The 49ers finished the season among the most- (if not the single most-) injured teams in the league. They led the NFL with over $95 million in player salary on reserve lists earlier in the season and were ranked No. 1 for among the playoff teams in total injury impact.
The Niners have grown accustomed to being in Super Bowl contention over the last several years with a stacked roster on both sides of the ball. Their coaching staff, that now includes new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, are respected across the league, which heightens expectations even further.
Unfortunately, that final game and the Seahawks' ultimate run highlighted weaknesses that can no longer be ignored.
San Francisco's offense stalled out far too often against an elite defense, and many are calling for a completely revamped offensive line, which begins with the hiring of Roman Sapolu, son of 49ers legend Jesse Sapolu. With Chris Foerster serving as the Niners primary offensive line/assistant head coach, Roman will be tasked with helping restore pride and glory to a subpar unit.
Defensively, San Francisco has been known for its keen discipline and solid play, but lost its edge at the worse possible moment.
Going into that final divisional game, it almost felt like the 49ers expected to win despite so many key losses to injury, provided that side of the ball operated with meticulous execution.
The loss erased any illusion that San Francisco was guaranteed to finally break through.
It was a stark reminder to players, coaches and the front office that talent alone simply isn't enough to carry them over the hump. Championship teams are usually forged in disappointment and heartache, not from winning. And it puts the onus on the front office to develop talent in a Seahawks-like way.
The Niners ugly ending leaves yet another scar that not only stings, but hardens over time. It gives them a shared memory of failure to carry into next season, so when games come down to the wire, they'll remember how it felt to fall short.