"To win it all, that's it," Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice recently told the San Francisco Chronicle, ahead of this week's celebrity golf tournament near South Lake Tahoe. He was discussing the expectations for the San Francisco 49ers during the upcoming season.
Rice has been a part of three championship teams, so he knows a thing or two about the NFL's winning formula. When he looks at this year's 49ers squad, he sees all the right ingredients for a Super Bowl run.
San Francisco has been to two Super Bowls after Rice's time with the team. However, the team fell short in each contest. The NFL legend believes this season could be different.
"We've got it on defense. We've got it on offense," Rice declared. "There are no excuses, man. They should go into training camp thinking Super Bowl."
The 49ers have a lot of playmakers on offense. Rice is a fan of the team's receiver group, specifically fourth-year wideout Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco's leading receiver last season.
"I think it was his route running," Rice said of Aiyuk's improvement. "He's probably the best route runner with the 49ers. Look at Deebo [Samuel]; he's doing more with the bubble screens and stuff like that. I think when it comes down to actually running routes, Brandon is so much better."
Steve Young was Rice's teammate during the 49ers' last Super Bowl win, dating back nearly three decades. Young, a Hall of Fame quarterback, acknowledges that his former team has had opportunities in recent years and couldn't seal the deal.
San Francisco has been to the NFC Championship Game in three of the last four seasons. They hope to make it four of the last five seasons, on the way to Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas, and finally bringing home the franchise's sixth Lombardi.
"We've had a window for four or five years now, where we have it all. Let's go get it," Young said this week while also preparing to participate in the golf tournament.
The former NFL quarterback has always praised Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers' head coach and play caller. Young has often said that if he were to pick a system to play in today, it would be Shanahan's because of how many options it gives a quarterback.
"The 49ers have a head coach who is as innovative as anybody in the league, at a time when the Cowboys last year are running 2015 plays and don't have a chance," Young said. "Kyle leans in and figures out ways to make it better for quarterbacks. So we're ahead of the game already right there. And then we have as good a roster as anybody — it's not perfect, but it's as good as anybody."
A lot hinges on the health of quarterback Brock Purdy, who suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow during the NFC Championship Game loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. While the 49ers are hopeful the second-year player will be ready in time for the start of the regular season, Young discusses the young quarterback with a more cautious tone, expressing confidence in backups Trey Lance and Sam Darnold.
Lance has started only four NFL games, entering last season as the starter but suffering a season-ending ankle injury during Week 2. There has been a lot of trade talk (mostly rumors) this offseason surrounding the former No. 3 overall pick. However, Young believes Lance should stick with the Niners as long as possible.
"You've got to play and get in the groove, and then get kicked in the teeth and figure out how to get through that," Young said. "If I was Trey, do not leave here. Fight, claw, figure out a way to get on the field with this team. You'll find out how good you are."
Rice knows that championship windows don't last forever, and the 49ers have to take advantage of theirs while they can.
"That's why the mindset should be, 'We're going to win it now,'" Rice said. "You don't want to come out and say that, but you've got to have the confidence. We have all the pieces right now."
