In that playoff game, James carried the ball six times for 28 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt, and also caught a pass for seven yards. Despite being inactive for 14 of the 17 regular-season games, the fifth-round draft pick showed enough promise to keep fans and coaches intrigued about his potential.
Speaking with reporters this week, head coach Kyle Shanahan emphasized that the team remains confident in James as he gears up for his second NFL season.
"I'm real excited about Jordan James," Shanahan said. "I wish we could have gotten him in there more. He was ready to go here these last six weeks of the year, big time. There just wasn't an opportunity for him."
James had limited chances behind Christian McCaffrey, who dominated the 49ers' running back snaps with 932, while Brian Robinson Jr. logged 190.
McCaffrey's standout season—2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 total touchdowns—naturally limited opportunities for others. However, with Robinson set to become a free agent, James could see an expanded role in 2026.
"If he has an offseason that we think he's capable of, and can improve, especially the way he looked here at the end of the year, I feel very excited about him helping us," Shanahan added.
Meanwhile, James's rise could signal the end of the road for Isaac Guerendo. After logging 227 offensive snaps as a rookie in 2024, Guerendo didn't see a single snap in 2025 despite being active for 14 games.
With McCaffrey's workload and potential openings in the backfield, James could be poised to make a bigger impact for the 49ers in 2026.
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