The last five seasons have been an incredible ride for the 49ers, but let’s face it - wear and tear is catching up to this team. And yeah, a Super Bowl hangover doesn’t help. Over that span, we’ve played 12 extra games, posting an 8-4 playoff record but coming up short twice in the Super Bowl - both losses to the Chiefs.
After last night’s game against the Bills, it’s clear we’re not contenders this season. The injuries are piling up, and as a team, we’ve simply played too much football. Our core players are dropping like flies, and the toll of so many high-stakes seasons is impossible to ignore.
Frustrated Fans, But Perspective Matters
I see a lot of fans losing their minds online. Some are even calling for Kyle Shanahan to be fired - which, let’s be honest, is ridiculous. We’re not just any team; we’ve been in the thick of it year after year. This kind of sustained success comes with a price, especially for an aging roster that’s been through so many battles. What we’re witnessing now is the fallout of all that wear and tear.
If I Were Lynch and Shanahan, Here’s the Plan
Let’s not pack it in completely, but it’s time to prioritize the future:
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Rest the Starters: If a player isn’t at least 90% healthy, sit them. No exceptions. Christian McCaffrey got hurt again last night, Fred Warner is reportedly playing on a broken foot, and Kittle is clearly struggling with injuries - one week in, one week out. Let them heal. It’s not worth risking them further in a lost season.
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Move on From Deebo: I don’t know what’s happened to Deebo Samuel, but he’s not the same guy. Whether it’s injuries or something else, he hasn’t been that explosive playmaker we’ve relied on. It might be time to cut our losses and move him in the offseason.
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Cut Jake Moody: I hate to say it, but the Moody experiment has been a disaster. We need a kicker we can trust, and he’s not it.
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Fix the Offensive Line: Trent Williams might retire, and outside of Dominic Puni (and maybe Aaron Banks), the line has been a mess, especially in pass protection. This needs to be a top priority in the offseason.
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Find a Real Backup QB: Brandon Allen has been atrocious. Last year, at least we had Sam Darnold as an option. We need a serviceable backup for Purdy - someone who won’t sink the ship if he has to step in.
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Overhaul the Defense: The defense has been poorly coached this season. It’s a far cry from the dominant units we’ve had for over a decade. We need a real defensive coordinator who can bring back that fearsome identity we’re known for.
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Overhaul Special Teams: Like the defense, our special teams have been awful too. To be good, you have to be good in all three phases and we’ve been terrible in two.
