The San Francisco 49ers may have some doubters heading into the 2025 NFL season, but there's reason to believe they're being underrated.
Although the 49ers have received their fair share of optimism from analysts, several skeptics believe the team is headed for another challenging year. Injuries ravaged the roster in 2024, contributing to a disappointing 6-11 record and a last-place finish in the NFC West.
Still, recent history suggests a potential bounce-back. San Francisco has posted 10 or more wins in three of the past four seasons, with each of those campaigns resulting in deep playoff runs.
Last year, however, the 49ers were without 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey for most of the season. They also lost star wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, and other key contributors. The 49ers simply couldn't overcome the wave of injuries.
Bleacher Report's Moe Moton believes 2025 could tell a different story. In a recent breakdown of NFL playoff contenders, Moton analyzed which teams were overhyped or underrated—and he placed the 49ers firmly in the latter category.
"San Francisco couldn't overcome bad breaks last season, but the club could bounce back with better luck on the injury front," Moton wrote.
Now, with McCaffrey and Williams healthy for training camp and Aiyuk expected to return during the season, San Francisco's offense could regain its dominant form. On the defensive side, the 49ers moved on from coordinator Nick Sorensen. They reunited with Robert Saleh, widely regarded as an upgrade for a unit that struggled against the run and failed to pressure quarterbacks consistently.
The 49ers also benefit from the league's easiest schedule in 2025, which helps explain why they remain the favorites to win the NFC West despite the significant offseason turnover.
"With a moderate improvement on the defensive side of the ball under Saleh and a mostly healthy offensive cast, the 49ers should be back in Super Bowl contention," Moton concluded.
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