The San Francisco 49ers were undoubtedly the biggest disappointment in the entire NFL during the 2024-25 season. After falling in the Super Bowl the previous season, they entered 2024-25 with their win total projected at 11.5, tied with the Kansas City Chiefs for the most in the league. Their +600 odds to win the Super Bowl trailed only the Chiefs.
Nearly everything went wrong for the 49ers, however, as they finished 6-11, failing to reach the postseason altogether. The franchise that once looked destined for another championship run instead watched their season crumble under the weight of injuries and underperformance.
How Did the 49ers Fall So Far From Championship Contention?
San Francisco took a dramatic step back on both sides of the ball after finishing third in scoring offense, second in total yards, third in scoring defense, and eighth in total yards allowed in 2023. They dropped to 13th in scoring offense, fourth in total yards, 29th in scoring defense, and eighth in total yards allowed during the 2024-25 campaign.
The defensive collapse proved particularly devastating. While the offense maintained some effectiveness, ranking ninth in PFSN’s Offense+ metric, the defense plummeted to 26th in PFSN’s Defense+ metric. This represented one of the most dramatic single-season defensive declines in recent memory.
Meanwhile, the 49ers endured a brutal offseason as they watched key contributors scatter to other teams. Guard Aaron Banks, cornerback Charvarius Ward, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, and safety Talanoa Hufanga all departed in free agency, gutting both sides of the ball. The losses created massive holes throughout the roster that proved impossible to fill.
Adding to their challenges, they traded star wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The move signaled a potential shift toward rebuilding rather than competing for immediate championships.
Can the 49ers Bounce Back in the 2025-26 Season?
Despite their poor 2024-25 performance and significant offseason departures, San Francisco enters the upcoming season with surprisingly strong championship expectations. The team holds +1900 odds to win the Super Bowl, tied for the seventh-best in the league. They carry the fifth-best odds at -205 to reach the postseason, suggesting oddsmakers believe the talent remains for a playoff push.
Most notably, their +160 odds to win the NFC West represent the best in the division. This confidence reflects the belief that their core remains intact enough to compete with division rivals despite the roster turnover.
As the offseason winds down, fans can get their first glimpse of how the retooled roster will perform when preseason action begins.
When Will the 49ers Begin the Preseason?
The 49ers are closing in on the beginning of the preseason. Their team shared a video to social media to hype up their first preseason game, which will come against the Denver Broncos on August 9, adding:
“Soon 👀”
Soon 👀 pic.twitter.com/i0d7GcV6Vt
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) August 3, 2025
The game will take place at Levi’s Stadium at 8:30 PM ET and will be aired locally on KPIX, San Francisco’s CBS affiliate. The 49ers will face the Las Vegas Raiders on August 16 and the Los Angeles Chargers on August 23 to close out the preseason.
San Francisco’s regular season will begin on September 7 as they visit the Seattle Seahawks in an interdivisional matchup. The 49ers will travel to New Orleans to face the Saints in Week 2. They will return to the Bay Area for their first two home games as they host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3 and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4.
Two road games follow as they visit the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football in Week 5 before heading across the country to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. San Francisco will return home to host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football before two more road games against the Houston Texans and New York Giants.
They will host the Rams in Week 10 before visiting the Cardinals the following week, concluding their divisional matchups with both teams. The 49ers are set to host the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football in Week 12 before visiting the Cleveland Browns in Week 13.
San Francisco will have a bye in Week 14, the final week of the season that will have bye weeks. They will then host the Tennessee Titans before visiting the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football for their final road game of the season. The 49ers will host the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football in Week 17. Their season will conclude with a home game against the Seahawks.
