The San Francisco 49ers are packing up and leaving early for a change after three consecutive seasons of lengthy postseason runs.
The 49ers suffered multiple off-field tragedies, key player injuries, and inconsistent play that left one of the preseason Super Bowl favorites playing out the string in the final weeks of a 6-11 season. The season began with contract disputes that prevented stars from training camp.
“Our standards for this organization are significantly higher,” George Kittle, a tight end, stated on Monday. “We have greater standards for ourselves. Our objectives were more ambitious. None of these were accomplished by us. It’s disappointing, then.
Since Trent Williams and Brandon Aiyuk skipped training camp in search of new contracts, the 49ers haven’t appeared to be a serious contender this season.
After that, rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall missed the first half of the season after being shot in the chest in San Francisco one week prior to the game.
Christian McCaffrey, the reigning offensive player of the year, was sidelined for the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury in his fourth game back after missing the first half due to Achilles tendonitis.
Other important players who missed a lot of time due to injury include Aiyuk, Williams, Javon Hargrave, Nick Bosa, Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Jackson Mason, and others.
A personal tragedy also occurred when cornerback Charvarius Ward’s 1-year-old daughter passed away and Williams’ wife gave birth to a stillborn son.
Many of the players that were instrumental in the team’s run to the Super Bowl the previous season were unable to replicate that performance in 2024, so the play on the field was also below the typical level.
“We didn’t do it. “It hurts,” said quarterback Brock Purdy. “But more than anything, how I’m looking at it and a lot of guys are is we have some time away to reflect on it and come back hungry, ready to do what it takes to get back on track of playing Niner football and winning and being excellent across the board.”
Purdy was much less effective this season after placing fourth in the MVP voting in his first full season as a starter in 2023. Although he shown even greater movement to extend plays and made efforts to become a more vocal leader, he was not nearly as effective as a passer. He only threw 20 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions during the season, and his passer rating fell by almost 17 points to 96.1. Additionally, he failed in multiple late-game situations where the Niners had a chance to win by a comeback.
San Francisco is first in yards per play allowed, fourth in points allowed, and eighth in takeaways, demonstrating their superior defensive play over the last five seasons. In the first season under head coach Nick Sorensen, the Niners had notable declines in all three categories. The problems were especially noticeable in the second half of the season, when San Francisco gave up the third-highest number of points per game (28.2) over the final nine games and had the fewest takeaways (two).
“It’s just a lack of execution, lack of takeaways, lack of everything, honestly,” linebacker Fred Warner stated. “It wasn’t even close to the standard of what I’ve known.”
The rookie class’s performance has been one of San Francisco’s few bright spots. The Niners discovered a number of important contributors after the draft class outside of Purdy had virtually little influence for two years.
Dominick Puni, a third-round pick, started at right guard straight away and appears to be set to stay there for many years to come. Fourth-round running back Isaac Guerendo, second-round cornerback Renardo Green, and fourth-round safety Malik Mustapha all made significant contributions and ought to play important roles in the upcoming year.
After losing time, Pearsall’s output was restricted; nonetheless, he ended the final two games with 14 catches for 210 yards and two touchdowns.
The performance of San Francisco’s special teams has been a persistent problem throughout the season. There are concerns about whether special teams coordinator Brian Schneider will return for a fourth season after the club lost on two fake punts, gave up a kickoff return touchdown, allowed a blocked punt, and had three return turnovers.
Kicker Jake Moody, selected in the third round of the 2023 draft, is the subject of a more troubling query. After recovering from a high ankle injury in Week 10, he missed a league-leading 10 field goals, going 5 for 14 on FGs from at least 40 yards.
Since Purdy is now eligible to negotiate an extension from his rookie contract, which has one year left on it and has been earning him roughly $1 million annually, the first immediate concern of the offseason will be about his contract.
With nine quarterbacks in the NFL on contracts worth at least $50 million annually, Purdy’s next deal will be far more lucrative.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.