Get comfortable, San Francisco 49ers. You're not going anywhere anytime soon.
While it was assumed that the team would remain in Arizona through Christmas, the possibility of the team returning to the Bay Area in the days leading to the holiday remained an option. San Francisco will remain at its temporary home at least through the Week 16 game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium, the venue the 49ers will play its next two home games.
"The 49ers have decided to stay because players wanted to make definitive Christmas plans with their families," reports Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. "Many families will join the team in Arizona for the holiday."
While the 49ers are slated to play their next two home games, which start with tonight's matchup against the Buffalo Bills, at State Farm Stadium, the possibility of finishing out the season in Arizona remains in play. That would mean a "home" game against the Seattle Seahawks on January 3 at State Farm Stadium, in addition to the already-scheduled one against the Washington Football Team on December 13.
There is a chance that Santa Clara County's most recent restrictions and ban on collegiate and professional contact sports will extend into January.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan assured his players that the 49ers would do everything in their power to make sure Christmas was spent with family.
"I just try to tell our guys that I don't care what happens; we're not going to spend Christmas without our families," Shanahan said last week. "We'll figure it out. That's really what I tried to give to everyone just so they can say that to their families because I think that is the concern.
"... But I know our organization, and they'll do whatever they can to figure out whether we're here with our families for that week or whether we have to get all of them to us, and go through whatever we have to do to do that. I know that will be worth it, and I know Jed (York) will help us out with that."