The San Francisco 49ers are determined to close out the season on a positive note. With three games remaining, the team is focused on competing at a high level and building momentum for the 2025 season.
While their slim playoff hopes likely vanished after Thursday night's loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the 49ers still see an opportunity to establish a strong foundation for the future.
"I want us to show up next week like we showed up for this game," head coach Kyle Shanahan said during a Friday conference call. "I thought our guys came out ready to play. I thought they were extremely physical. I thought our guys battled.
"I didn't think we played very well on offense. I thought there were a few key plays that we could've made that would've been the difference in the game. But I thought our guys sold out for that game, and I expect them to sell out here for these next three games.
"Every time we have on our uniform, we go out on the field, regardless of the situation, I expect us to play a certain way. That's the standard of how we do things and if you can't play to that standard, then make it easy for us and show us that, and you won't be a part of it."
Shanahan's last comment likely references linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, whom he does not expect to remain with the team next week. Campbell, reportedly upset over being replaced by Dre Greenlaw, refused to enter Thursday night's game and abandoned his teammates to return to the locker room.
The 49ers will continue to lean on their veteran leadership, including safety Talanoa Hufanga, who fought his way back after a lengthy stint on injured reserve.
"The season's not over," Hufanga told reporters after the game. "We still have games left to play, and if we don't show up, there's no reason to be here if we're not going to do that. So I'm going to show up every day."
Shanahan was asked what gives him confidence that 2025 will yield better results. The head coach stressed the importance of staying focused on the task at hand before turning the page to next season.
"I'll talk about 2025 when we get to 2025," Shanahan said. "But, you have hope every year. You put together the best team possible, you go and practice and you go out there and you battle.
"So that's what we do every single offseason. You figure out how to get the best players possible through free agency and the draft, you try to keep [as many of] your best players as possible, you go to work, and you show up for Week 1."