Jerry Rice didn’t hesitate to point out that the San Francisco 49ers weren’t afraid to make major moves this offseason. Although Brock Purdy is going nowhere, as the 25-year-old signed a five-year, $265 million extension that will keep him in San Francisco through the 2029 season.
However, one of his top weapons, Deebo Samuel, is no longer on the team. He was traded to the Washington Commanders back in March. The star receiver’s departure is among the collective issues for which Rice remains concerned.
Jerry Rice Is Concerned About Major Changes for 49ers
At the age of 62, Rice still keeps up with football like he’s out there playing on the field. The No. 16 pick in the 1985 draft is arguably the best wide receiver of all time, as he enjoyed a lengthy tenure (1985-2000) on the 49ers. He had short stints with three other teams after, but the three-time Super Bowl Champion and Super Bowl XXIII MVP had a lot to say about his former team’s recent transactions.
Jerry Rice is skeptical about the 49ers new-look roster:
“I just feel like we added on too many pieces. The reason why I say that is these guys are young guys. I would have preferred to sort of leave everything like last year, add on to that, and have a chance for this coming… pic.twitter.com/O6dwA2bTMM
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) July 12, 2025
“I just feel like we added on too many pieces. The reason why I say that is these guys are young guys,” Rice told Mercury News. “Super Bowl 60 is going to be here in San Francisco. I would have preferred to sort of leave everything like last year, add on to that, and have a chance for this coming year.
He continued, “Now, can Kyle Shanahan pull it together, and can these guys jell? We have to wait and see. But there’s this big question mark if it’s going to work. I’m always going to go Niners no matter what. But we’re bringing in so many young players. It’s going to take a while for that team to jell. If it doesn’t happen this year, then maybe the next couple of years.”
For Rice, he knows the stakes of the Super Bowl being in the team’s home stadium. Only one team has ever had that honor, as Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory in Raymond James Stadium. The February 7, 2021, game had just 25,000 fans due to COVID-19, so even though Brady played at home, it wasn’t the ideal atmosphere.
February 8, 2026, is the date every NFL team has on its calendar. After a brutal 6-11 season, Purdy is looking to get back on track and lead this team to their third Super Bowl appearance in their last seven seasons. Purdy had a taste of the big game back in the 2023 season, as the 49ers fell to the Kansas City Chiefs, 25-22, in overtime.
It remains to be seen whether the addition of multiple new players to the team will actually be an issue for San Francisco. Hopefully, the 49ers coaches will be able to prepare them for a crucial season for the franchise, in which they have a very favorable schedule.
