Will the Niners return to the playoffs after a down year?
The San Francisco 49ers didn’t have the season they’d hoped for in 2024, going 6-11 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020 as they dealt with a plethora of injuries.
That led to a retool this offseason, as the 49ers looked to get younger, letting several veteran free agents go, while focusing on the 2025 NFL Draft, where they tied a league-high with 11 selections.
Now, it’s full steam ahead to the 2025 season, where the 49ers have one of the more favorable schedules in the NFL, but still have many questions to answer about their team.
The pressure is on for several people. Head coach Kyle Shanahan will look to re-establish the team’s offense, while defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has a tall task ahead of him trying to improve the team’s defense despite getting younger.
Then comes quarterback Brock Purdy, who signed a major five-year, $265 million deal this offseason, cementing himself as the team’s franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Preparing for major extensions, the 49ers didn’t really make many moves this offseason with all of the departures. But, they still have a strong core at hand, and could very well benefit from an easier schedule.
So, what is a realistic outcome for the 49ers in 2025?
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer broke down his thoughts on the 49ers in a recent episode of the MMQB podcast, sharing optimism for the upcoming season.
“People were talking about this team like it was a ghost ship coming out of the offseason, and that’s not the case at all,” Breer said about the 49ers. “I think the interesting thing is, they didn’t reset their cap, but because of the Purdy contract, their cash spending is still near the top of the league.
“If I were a Niners fan, I would feel really good about this season. I’m thinking a Divisional Round appearance would be realistic. I don’t know if I would say they need to get back to the NFC Championship Game like they did 3 times in 4 years, but I think Divisional Round is a realistic goal.”
Many believe the 49ers are preparing themselves for a jump in 2026 as they reset financially this season, but San Francisco is still in a position to make some noise in 2025.
In fact, they’re currently the favorites to win the NFC West, and still have some of the highest odds in the NFC.
To achieve their goals, they’ll need to see early returns from a big rookie class, while also getting a bounce-back year from Brock Purdy and the defense. If it all comes together, though, the pieces are there to return to the playoffs and place themselves in a position to contend once again.
Of course, it isn’t music to one’s ears when hearing that the divisional round of the playoffs is the goal, but that would be a realistic stepping point for San Francisco after winning only six games in 2024.