Most are probably excited to see 2020 in the rearview mirror. That's likely the case for many San Francisco 49ers players and coaches. This past offseason was filled with so much hope and anticipation as the team looked to make amends for last season's heartbreaking Super Bowl loss.
Injuries destroyed those hopes pretty early in the season. The 49ers were ravaged by injuries during Week 2 and could never really recover after that. As if the injuries throughout the year weren't enough, the team has been stuck in Arizona for the past month due to COVID-19 restrictions banning contact sports in Santa Clara County.
"We were six minutes away from being champions," head coach Kyle Shanahan said this week. "We brought a lot of the guys back, ran into COVID, and by Week 2, we didn't have the same team. … We thought that was rock bottom, and it seems like 30 more things happened after that, all the way to being topped off with getting kicked out of your home."
One player who is looking forward to a better 2021 is star linebacker Fred Warner. He joined the 49ers Unscripted podcast this week and was asked to name three things he's most looking forward to in the new year.
"I did mention this in my presser this week, that I'm looking forward to seeing Nick Bosa back on the field," Warner told team reporter Keiana Martin. "Shout-out to Nick. I'm very excited for the season that he's going to have. It's going to be a great comeback."
That's one. The other two items are also football-related, which shows that Warner is focused on making sure the 2021 season is better than this one turned out to be. The linebacker's team goal, like the last offseason's, is a lofty one.
"I'm looking forward to having a great year, making it back to the Super Bowl (which would technically be 2022, but whatever)," Warner continued. "Got to speak it into existence now. And just trying to be my best self, I guess. Try to outdo the year I had this year.
"Those are all football things, but that's what I'm looking forward to."
You can listen to the entire 16-minute interview with Warner below.