Despite the outcome, star running back Christian McCaffrey says he will look back on the 2025 team with pride. Injuries battered the squad, which still managed 12 wins and a playoff victory.
"There's always one team happy at the end of the year," McCaffrey said Thursday on The Rich Eisen Show. "And every year I've played, I don't have the Super Bowl yet, and so you always end up a little bit bitter. But I think the more experience you get in your career, the more I feel so much gratitude for teams like the one I was just on, because of the resilience, because of the fight, the character.
"All the things you would want in a football team, this team had. It wasn't easy. We had a lot of adversity throughout the season, but guys just showed up every single day. And it's a good reminder of the fundamentals of football: hard work, dedication to the craft, blocking, and tackling. Not some serious speech or potion that did it. It was more just guys showing up every day.
"And, obviously, we didn't end up the way we wanted to, but it was one of those teams where you'll look back on it, and I'll be really proud to be a part of it."
Eisen noted that the 49ers' season should be considered a success, given that the team remained competitive despite losing Brock Purdy and George Kittle for stretches, as well as cornerstone stars Fred Warner and Nick Bosa to season-ending injuries.
A key factor in keeping the team focused was head coach Kyle Shanahan, who may have delivered his best season as a coach yet.
"Kyle's the Coach of the Year in my book," McCaffrey said. "I think, when you look at all of the adversity that we had to go through and still to get to where we did, that's a testament to the staff, the players that [owner] Jed [York] and [GM] John [Lynch] and Kyle have brought into the building.
"And then, it's a testament to the leadership. When you have a guy like a Fred or a Bosa or a Kittle or a Brock—whatever—when you have them go down, and the depth to be able to come in and produce, that's a big deal because that can go the other way.
"And so, whenever you have that, it's a testament to the culture. And that starts with leadership. And again, just, it was a cool team to be a part of in that way."
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