The San Francisco 49ers are heading into the offseason with more questions than answers - and one glaring issue they can’t afford to ignore: the pass rush.
After falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional round, the Niners are staring down a long winter that will include decisions on key free agents like Brandon Aiyuk. But even beyond the offensive storylines, it’s the defensive front that demands immediate attention. Simply put, San Francisco’s pass rush wasn’t just underwhelming in 2025 - it was historically ineffective.
Let’s start with the numbers. The 49ers finished the regular season with just 20 sacks.
That’s not a typo. One player - Myles Garrett - had more sacks (23) than the entire 49ers defense.
Even when you include the team’s two playoff games, they only managed to match Garrett’s total. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a franchise that once prided itself on relentless defensive pressure.
Injuries certainly played a role. Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams were sidelined, and their absence loomed large.
Getting them back healthy will help, no doubt. But relying solely on internal reinforcements isn’t enough.
The 49ers have historically been aggressive when it comes to building out their defensive line, and this offseason needs to be no different.
Beyond the sack total, the advanced metrics paint an equally grim picture. San Francisco posted a 24.7% pressure rate - dead last in the league.
They also ranked 29th in pass rush win rate, which essentially measures how often a team beats its blocker within 2.5 seconds. That’s not just bad luck or a rough stretch - that’s a systemic issue.
The lack of pressure up front had ripple effects across the defense. With quarterbacks enjoying clean pockets and ample time to throw, the secondary was left exposed far too often. And in today’s NFL, where explosive passing attacks are the norm, you simply can’t survive without a disruptive front four.
So where do the 49ers go from here?
Whether it’s making a splashy trade or dipping into the free-agent pool, San Francisco has to prioritize adding another impact edge rusher. Names like Trey Hendrickson and John Franklin-Myers will likely be on the radar - veterans who can bring heat off the edge and take some pressure off Bosa.
Even with Bosa and Williams back in the fold, depth is critical. The modern NFL demands a rotation of pass rushers who can stay fresh and wreak havoc for four quarters.
This isn’t about a rebuild - the 49ers still have a core capable of contending. But if they want to get over the hump and back to the Super Bowl, the pass rush has to be more than just Bosa and hope. It has to be a strength again.
The offseason starts now, and for San Francisco, the mission is clear: fix the pass rush, or risk falling further behind.