The San Francisco 49ers being one of the NFL’s oldest teams is no surprise. The part that stands out is where that age is concentrated.
A recent chart of average roster age across the league has the 49ers second-oldest overall out of 32 teams. More strikingly, they sit as the oldest team on average on offense, while their defense ranks No. 11 in average age.
That split is the real eyebrow-raiser. San Francisco’s defense is actually younger than average, but the offense drags the whole roster age up. With skill players like Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Mike Evans on the wrong side of 30, it’s easy to see why that side of the ball is doing the heavy lifting in the age department.
Last season’s injuries hit the 49ers hard, though the damage seemed even worse on defense. Fred Warner and Nick Bosa both went down with season-ending injuries. On offense, Brock Purdy and Kittle missed extended time, but the only true long-term loss came when Kittle suffered that Achilles tear in January.
That history is why it’s hard not to look ahead to 2026 and see another season where health becomes a major storyline. Maybe that’s too pessimistic, but it has been a recurring theme through the Kyle Shanahan era, and the 49ers also have plenty of travel ahead with so many older players in the mix.
Still, the outlook isn’t all doom. San Francisco can survive if Kittle misses a few weeks or Evans can’t play every game, because the depth is good enough to keep them afloat and win games, just like they showed last season. The bigger issue is making sure the roster is healthy late in the year and ready for the playoffs.
That’s where the age could flip from concern to asset. In the postseason, all that experience starts to matter more, not less.
The 49ers have plenty of players who’ve been through playoff battles before, and that kind of seasoning can pay off in tight matchups. If they get in and arrive there in decent shape, they should like their chances.
In Other News...
Mac Jones Says 49ers Brotherhood Sets This Team Apart
Mac Jones has spent enough time around the 49ers to notice the difference, and he used a recent appearance on the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast to explain why this stop has felt unlike his previous NFL experiences. The backup quarterback pointed to the organizations close-knit culture as a real part of San Franciscos identity, saying the bond inside the building has helped the team function at a high level.
For Jones, the appeal goes beyond the field. He said he feels connected with everyone in the organization and is comfortable in his current role even as trade rumors continue to follow him as a possible starter elsewhere. In a league where backup quarterbacks often become the subject of constant speculation, Jones perspective offers a reminder that fit and stability can matter just as much as opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Shanahan Keeps Getting Elite Respect Despite One Lingering Problem
Bleacher Reports latest look at the NFLs top head coaches again puts Kyle Shanahan near the top of the sports hierarchy, with only Sean McVay and Andy Reid ahead of him. It is familiar company for the 49ers coach, whose standing has long been tied to the way his offenses travel and the way his teams are viewed as annual contenders.
The lingering issue is the one that always follows Shanahan into these rankings: the rsum is loaded, but the biggest prize is still missing. Even so, the list still places him ahead of several accomplished names in the next tier, including Mike MacDonald, Sean Payton and Nick Sirianni, while also nodding to the rise of younger challengers and the staying power of coaches who have already reached the Super Bowl. [Read more 🡒]
49ers May Have Finally Found The Fix For Their Broken Pass Rush
The 49ers spent the offseason looking for a way to make their pass rush feel less one-dimensional, and Osa Odighizuwa gives them a different kind of answer on the interior. Acquired from the Cowboys, he arrives with a reputation as a disruptive force inside, the sort of lineman who can collapse pockets and force quarterbacks to adjust before the edge rush even gets going.
For San Francisco, that matters because the defense has been searching for more consistent pressure without having to ask everything of the same players on the outside. Odighizuwa is expected to fit under new coordinator Raheem Morris as a piece that can lift the entire front, and the hope is that his presence will help the rest of the line play faster, cleaner, and with more freedom. [Read more 🡒]