Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
If you haven't read it already, I really suggest you dive into
Nick Wagoner's feature this morning for ESPN (h/t to Matthew Flanagan for pointing it out). It's a lengthy read, but you won't regret the time spent.
In the feature, the 49ers beat writer examines the relationship between old and new. When head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch took over the team in 2017, there seemed to be a gap between the current team and the legendary ones that came before it.
While Shanahan and Lynch wanted to rebuild the 49ers in their own way, they also desired to bridge that gap.
Since then, former players like Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, and Steve Young have been welcomed back with open arms. The players and the organization have embraced their presence.
Three years after Shanahan and Lynch took over, the 49ers are once again on the doorstep of a Super Bowl. They are one win away from a trip to Miami in February for a chance to hoist the organization's sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy.
History has accompanied the 49ers on this journey. As Wagoner points out, current players have ties to past ones. Third-year receiver
Kendrick Bourne keeps in touch with the Hall of Famer receiver, Rice. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has bonded with legendary offensive lineman Jesse Sapolu. Second-year linebacker
Fred Warner has access to NaVorro Bowman.
In New England, quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo sat and learned behind one of the greatest to ever play the game, Tom Brady. How could anything else be more intimidating than that? Then Garoppolo was traded to San Francisco, where names like Montana, Young, and even John Brodie preceded him.
San Francisco has a quarterback legacy that is tough to follow.
Garoppolo "has an open line" to Young. Wagoner reports that, at one point this season, the Hall of Fame quarterback asked Garoppolo if the team's rich quarterback history felt like a weight.
It's doesn't. It's motivation.
"It pushes you," Garoppolo said. "It sets the standard for quarterback play. And the tradition that they've set here with the Niners, it's incredible."
Garoppolo is on the doorstep of cementing his own legacy. Many underestimated his impact following a devastating ACL injury last season. Still, here he is, ready to do what so many since Montana and Young have failed to accomplish — win a championship.
Click here to read Wagoner's entire feature over at ESPN.
The Arizona Cardinals went into Levi's Stadium on Sunday and upset the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers 24-20. It was not the start Richard Sherman and his team wanted for what they hoped would be a bounce-back season in response to February's Super Bowl defeat.
Sherman was asked after the game what the 49ers can take away from the loss, and what it might mean for the team moving forward.
"It just comes down to executing down the stretch," Sherman responded. "Any time you get to play, we got to knock the rust off some things, some communication things we have to do better, but I think overall, we feel good about where we are.
"They played a good game. They made some plays at the end. [Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray] made some plays with
The San Francisco 49ers are preparing to open the 2020 season on Sunday by hosting the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium. Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury jumped on a conference call with reporters on Wednesday morning and discussed the upcoming matchup between the two division opponents.
Below are some key 49ers-related topics the Cardinals coach hit during the discussion.
On the idea that the Cardinals drafted Isaiah Simmons to stop George Kittle
Kliff Kingsbury: "Yeah, I don't know if there is a George Kittle stopper, from what I've seen. I mean, he's pretty much dominated over the last couple of years, no matter what people have thrown at him, whether it's doubling him or trying to put their best cover guy (on him), whether
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters before Wednesday's practice as his team prepares for its Week 1 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Here is everything he had to say.
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
Can you just update us on what you saw or just what LB Fred Warner's status is and just how he's dealt with the last week and then also just how dependable he's been for you guys entering his third season?
"Yeah, Fred's back. He's good to go. I can't talk about too much of his week away, but Fred's been as reliable of a player that we've had. It's great to get him back today. We were obviously pretty nervous about that, but he's good to go and we're very
