The 49ers are opening the 2026 season with a long trip and a familiar question hanging over everything: how high can this group really go?
After an offseason packed with controversy, San Francisco finally gets going against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, and for Kyle Shanahan, this is year 10. That alone makes the conversation feel bigger than a single Week 1 matchup.
We’ve already seen the 49ers at their peak and at their most fragile under Shanahan, with 2019 and 2023 standing out as the best-case versions and 2020 and 2024 showing the other end of the spectrum. So where does this season land?
The optimistic answer is simple: win the Super Bowl.
That’s not wishful thinking, either. The 49ers are still good enough to be in the championship mix.
The window may not be as wide open as it was in 2023, but it’s not shut, either. The roster has changed in a few important places, with Brandon Aiyuk now Mike Evans, Charvarius Ward now Deommodore Lenoir, and Jake Moody now Eddy Pineiro.
Dre Greenlaw is still Dre Greenlaw, and Deebo Samuel is still Deebo Samuel.
This team may not match the overall talent level of the 2023 group, especially on defense, but it brings experience and enough quality to matter. The bigger issue is what’s around them. San Francisco looks good enough to contend, but the road to February could be rough.
That was already true once before. When the 49ers reached the Super Bowl after the 2023 season, they won the NFC West with 12 victories.
Last year, 12 wins only got them third place in the division. With the Rams and Seahawks looking the way they do, that kind of squeeze could happen again in 2026.
Even getting into the playoffs may be more difficult than it was two years ago.
And if San Francisco does get in, the bracket probably won’t do them any favors. Maybe the Seahawks or Rams show up on the road, but the NFC is loaded enough that plenty of teams could knock the 49ers out before they ever get back to SoFi Stadium.
Still, the title path is real. Tough, yes.
Clean, no. But realistic.
The uglier scenario is not the easy one where injuries pile up and the 49ers miss the playoffs. That version has already played out before in 2018, 2020, and 2024, and injuries at least explain a lot of what goes wrong. After the way San Francisco handled injuries in 2025 and still made a postseason run, that kind of collapse would be disappointing, but understandable.
The more uncomfortable outcome is a healthy season that ends without a Lombardi Trophy.
That would bring the spotlight right back to Shanahan. He has done plenty to move the franchise forward, but the final step has remained out of reach. He’s already taken losses in two NFC Championship Games and two Super Bowls, and another one of those defeats would only crank up the noise around him.
Shanahan is not in immediate danger after a playoff run without a championship, but the questions would get louder. The “right guy” debate would sharpen. And once that starts, it’s hard to stop.
The comparison that hangs over this kind of finish is Andy Reid with the Eagles. Reid lasted longer in Philadelphia, leaving after his 14th season, while Shanahan’s 2026 campaign would be his 10th with the 49ers.
Reid also reached the playoffs nine times in 14 years, but he went 0-4 in the NFC Championship Game and 0-1 in the Super Bowl before the Eagles eventually moved on. They then won two Super Bowls over the next 12 years.
Maybe San Francisco would find itself in that same conversation if this season ends the wrong way. Maybe it wouldn’t.
But if the 49ers stay healthy, make a run, and still come up short, that won’t make Shanahan’s résumé look any better. The perception around him in those big games is already there, and another deep playoff disappointment would only feed it.
In Other News...
Grant Cohn Is Somehow Becoming Part Of The 49ers Opener Story
The 49ers trip to Australia for their international opener against the Rams has produced the usual flood of game-week content, but one familiar Bay Area voice has become part of the conversation for a different reason. Grant Cohn, the veteran reporter known for his sharp criticism of San Francisco, has drawn attention overseas not for a practice note or matchup breakdown, but for the way he has documented the experience around the game.
His social media posts about local food and cultural stops have caught on with audiences well beyond the standard football crowd, turning a routine road assignment into something of a sideshow. Cohn has long been a polarizing figure around the 49ers because of his public clashes with players and the confrontational style he often brings to his coverage, and now even that reputation is being folded into a story that started with the opener itself. [Read more 🡒]
Deebo Samuels New Role Puts 49ers Rookie In Week 1 Spotlight
DeZhaun Stribling has quietly climbed into a meaningful spot on the 49ers preseason depth chart, and the timing could not be better for a team sorting through injuries and shifting roles at receiver before Week 1 against the Rams. The rookie has moved up enough to be considered for a significant offensive role, and the latest chart points to him lining up as a starting wideout alongside Mike Evans.
Deebo Samuels designation as the primary kick returner adds another layer to the picture, hinting at a reduced load on offense and opening the door for Stribling to see real early-season snaps. For a San Francisco passing game already adjusting on the fly, the rookies next chance may come right away, and it will be worth watching how quickly the staff leans into that opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
49ers First Injury Report Raises An Early Lineup Concern
The first injury report of the season gave the 49ers an immediate dose of reality, with several familiar names showing up before the week has even really settled in. Nick Bosa and George Kittle were both listed, and the report also brought a new concern on the defensive side when rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins appeared for the first time with a knee injury. It is the kind of early-week update that can quickly shape how a staff approaches practice, especially when core pieces are already under the microscope.
For now, the encouraging part is who was not there. Christian McCaffrey was absent from the report, and Mike Evans also did not appear, which helps keep at least some of the focus on the players who are actually dealing with issues. Still, Collins new injury designation stands out as the one to monitor, because even in September, the 49ers know how quickly a depth concern can become a bigger storyline if it lingers. [Read more 🡒]