With so many losses and a quarterback contract imminent, do you see that window nearly shut, or on the cusp of swinging wide open once more?
The San Francisco 49ers’ Super Bowl window isn’t shut—but you can get your hand on the glass. This team is going to look very different in 2025. Roster turnover? Expected. This much? Maybe not. Few saw the level of attrition coming this offseason, and it’s clear the 49ers are pivoting toward youth, something they began with the 2024 draft and are continuing with the 2025 NFL Draft.
Has their Super Bowl window closed? Not according to Zoltán Buday at Pro Football Focus, who ranked San Francisco No. 7 in his “Super Bowl Window” rankings. Pretty generous, considering they finished last in the NFC West and watched a string of key veterans exit. The Los Angeles Rams—you know, the team that seems to dodge cap gravity like it’s a hobby—are right behind them at No. 8. So, at least within the division, the 49ers are still in the mix.
Here’s what Buday had to say on the ranking:
Some might argue that San Francisco’s Super Bowl window was abruptly shut in 2024 when the 49ers finished last in their division and missed the playoffs. Brock Purdy’s expected contract extension could also make things more difficult for the franchise when it comes to building the roster.
While that almost certainly will impact the 49ers’ long-term chances, the current roster could still compete for a Super Bowl in 2025. Although left tackle Trent Williams, tight end George Kittle and running back Christian McCaffrey could all be considered older at their positions, when healthy, they are still among the best in the NFL.
Compete? Yes. Win it? Who knows, but I’m not putting money on it. The 49ers had a quiet and underwhelming free agency period due to all the dead money accumulated over the years. They are in a good spot to maybe win the NFC West, but the more you look at it, the more this year is going to be them working/developing the rookies and getting the younger guys, at large, ready to go and make a run in 2026.
Sure they have Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, and Brandon Aiyuk along with Christian McCaffrey as weapons for Brock Purdy (provided they can get the deal done), but they also have those weapons playing alongside an offensive line that has Trent Williams Dominick Puni and not much else besides George Kittle being a master of everything.
They have Robert Saleh back as defensive coordinator, but just the addition of Saleh doesn’t solve the pass-rush problem. Or the second-level void left by Greenlaw. Or the fact that this team is going to rely heavily on rookies to play key roles, on both sides of the ball.
The 49ers will start moving to a young team, and a team like that will need experience. There might be a lot more rookies playing this year than last, and with that comes lots of screwing up (good).
If the 49ers are in contention for 2025, it’s a massive win for Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch and likely means the window was pushed wide open for 2026.
How open do you see the 49ers’ Super Bowl window?