Kyle Shanahan has been in San Francisco long enough now that some of the 49ers’ best work has started to blend into the background. The big names get the headlines, sure. But a few players have done heavy lifting in plain sight, and they haven’t always gotten the credit they deserved.
Here are five of the most underappreciated 49ers from the Shanahan era.
Honorable mention goes to Colton McKivitz, K'Wuan Williams, and Kendrick Bourne.
At No. 5, Emmanuel Sanders makes the cut because of the impact he had after arriving in the middle of the season.
His stay in a 49ers uniform was short, which is the only reason he isn’t higher. Even so, Sanders stepped into a young receiving room at the exact moment San Francisco needed a steady veteran voice.
George Kittle had just one productive season behind him, and Deebo Samuel was still coming into his own. Sanders brought the kind of elder-statesman presence that helped settle that group.
Kittle recently gave him a nod by comparing Sanders’ veteran prowess to that of newly acquired Mike Evans, recognizing what that kind of experience can mean for younger pass catchers.
Matt Breida lands at No. 4, and his case is simple: production. Over three seasons with the 49ers, he averaged 5.0 yards per carry and added 67 receptions for 561 yards.
For an undrafted back, that’s real value. Still, he was usually working in a supporting role behind Carlos Hyde and Raheem Mostert, and he only led San Francisco in carries once.
After being traded to the Miami Dolphins, Breida spent time with three more teams, but he never got back to the same level he showed in red and gold. That leaves the obvious question hanging: what if Shanahan had leaned on him more?
Arik Armstead checks in at No. 3, and his place here feels overdue. Much of the attention on San Francisco’s defense has gone to the pass rush, but Armstead was a major part of that machine.
The defensive tackle spent nine years anchoring the front seven, which included helping the 49ers reach two Super Bowls. His 2019 season stands out in particular, when he posted a career-high 10 sacks from the interior.
While Nick Bosa and DeForest Buckner have often gotten more of the spotlight, Armstead was the guy making life miserable inside and forcing opponents to deal with a constant problem in the middle.
Dre Greenlaw comes in at No. 2, and the phrase “Always Robin, never Batman” fits the way he’s been viewed for much of his career. Fred Warner has earned the praise he gets, but Greenlaw has been a crucial part of what the 49ers defense has been, minus his one-year stint with the Denver Broncos last season.
He has topped 100 tackles twice, and there’s a strong case that San Francisco would have won the Super Bowl back in 2023 if he hadn’t gotten hurt early in the second quarter. Now that he’s back in the Bay, the expectation is that he’ll still live in Warner’s shadow, but he should help make the interior defense much tougher than it was a year ago.
At No. 1, it has to be Kyle Juszczyk. There’s just no easy way to put a number on what he has meant to San Francisco over nine seasons.
Basic stats don’t really capture his value, which is part of why he tends to slip under the radar. But the 49ers have made it clear how important he is, because Shanahan has never seemed willing to take him off the field in a league that has mostly moved away from the fullback.
Like Armstead and Greenlaw, Juszczyk was central to both Super Bowl teams. He even caught a touchdown pass in Super Bowl LIV against the Kansas City Chiefs.
From pass protection to short-yardage work to timely catches, he’s done a little of everything. Now entering his 14th season, he’s still giving San Francisco quiet production and doesn’t look close to slowing down.
In Other News...
49ers Linebacker Reunion Still Feels One Star Short
Dre Greenlaws return gives the 49ers something they have been trying to rebuild for a while: the familiar pairing of Greenlaw and Fred Warner in the middle of the defense. It is the sort of move that instantly brings back memories of when San Franciscos linebacker group felt complete, physical and fast enough to set the tone every Sunday.
Still, the reunion does not quite close the loop. Azeez Al-Shaairs departure left a hole that has not been easy to ignore, and his rise elsewhere has only sharpened the question of what the 49ers are missing from that old formula. With Warner and Greenlaw back together, the next issue is whether San Francisco can account for the role Al-Shaair once filled without waiting for an unlikely reunion of its own. [Read more 🡒]
This Overlooked 49ers Camp Battle Could Create A Familiar Unease
The 49ers have quietly put one of the most delicate jobs on the summer docket, with camp set to decide who handles punting duties in the regular season. After relying on veteran Thomas Morstead, San Francisco is looking for stability at a spot that rarely gets the spotlight until something goes wrong, and Corliss Waitman enters the competition with the kind of NFL experience that usually gives a player the early edge.
Brant Boyers special teams group has reason to care about this more than most clubs would, because a clean transition there matters to the overall operation. Jack Bouwmeester, an undrafted free agent from Australia, is part of the fight too, but the path to an actual job will depend on how the battle unfolds once camp gets going and which leg ultimately gives the 49ers the safest answer. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Purdy's Supporting Cast Looks Elite Until One Concern Creeps In
There is still plenty to like about Brock Purdys supporting cast heading into 2026, and one national evaluator put the 49ers near the top of the league for it. The group has the kind of marquee talent that changes how defenses play, along with enough depth pieces to make the whole operation look imposing on paper, which is exactly why San Francisco keeps drawing attention even as the roster evolves around Purdy.
The issue is the same one that has followed this offense for stretches now: availability. The wide receiver room has changed, the veteran core comes with miles on it, and the 49ers are once again trying to balance star power with the reality that health can reshape a season fast. For all the confidence that comes with a loaded group, there is still a little uncertainty hanging over how often the full collection will actually be on the field together. [Read more 🡒]