San Francisco 49ers veterans are set to report for training camp tomorrow, ready to begin preparations for another run at Super Bowl glory. The team has enjoyed significant success in recent years, appearing in four NFC Championship Games and two Super Bowls over the past five seasons. However, that elusive sixth championship continues to evade them.
The 49ers hope 2024 will be different. After falling just short of a championship in February, the team is gearing up for what could be one last run with its current core of playmakers. After this season, San Francisco must allocate a significant portion of its salary cap space to quarterback Brock Purdy, limiting their ability to splurge on other positions.
Longtime USA Today writer Nate Davis recently released his projections for the upcoming season and has the 49ers repeating as NFC West champions.
"Logical as it is to keep WR Brandon Aiyuk now (and well into the future), this is probably the Niners' last crack at Super Bowl glory with this entire foundation given the cap-crushing windfall that's invariably coming to Purdy a year from now," Davis wrote, projecting San Francisco to earn the top seed in the NFC once again.
"But presently, San Francisco certainly has the horses – many of them thoroughbreds – to make a very deep playoff run … and maybe win the photo finish this time after Super Bowl 58's near miss. Primo opportunity for a fast start with five of their first six contests against 2023 non-playoff teams."
Unfortunately, Davis predicts another disappointing end to the 49ers' Super Bowl hopes. While he has them reaching the NFC Championship Game after beating the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round of the postseason, Davis has the Green Bay Packers topping the 49ers at Levi's Stadium, falling a game short of a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
For Super Bowl 59, Davis projects the New York Jets to represent the AFC and beat the Packers in New Orleans on February 9, 2025.