Even when the San Francisco 49ers had a historic 2023 season offensively, they ranked 25th in DVOA in special teams. They were bottom-three in net kickoff and punt returns. You didn’t notice the poor field position or sloppy returns because you knew the offense would make up for it and get to midfield in a matter of plays.
In a mess of a 2024 season, the special teams units finished 31st in DVOA. Field goal, kickoff, kickoff return, and punt teams were all in the bottom five. Calling those units a mess is letting
them off lightly.
Last season felt like the first time under Kyle Shanahan that the 49ers were competent in multiple areas on special teams. According to DVOA, they were the fifth-best team on kickoff returns. Brian Robinson Jr. averaged 29.1 yards per return. Skyy Moore averaged 27.5 yards. Neither is on the roster.
Jacob Cowing? Jordan Watkins? Those two were the returners at OTAs, along with undrafted free agent Will Pauling. Would Shanahan allow rookie Kaelon Black? He did it a handful of times during college. Black’s explosive ability would be tempting to throw him out there.
The 49ers were also the ninth-best punt return team last year, thanks to Moore. It has been a struggle to find a punt returner under Shanahan. They’ve tried just about everybody, but nobody has stuck. At first, Moore felt like he had just as much of a chance to muff the punt as he would return it. His decision-making was questionable at best before he turned a corner. It’s probably Watkins’ job to lose this season.
It’s better to be lucky than good
For as bad as the 49ers’ injuries were in 2025, they were equally as lucky on special teams. You know things are going your way when you block an extra point. That happened in Week 5 against the Rams.
The 49ers’ opponents lost 20.5 points of value on field goals last year. They were comically bad. We’re not sure what kind of sorcery Shanahan used. Maybe it was the football gods’ way of evening things out with injuries. The 49ers’ opponents made 21 of 32 field goals last year. That is 20% below the league average. None of those field goal attempts were blocked. Just misses. As unexplainable as that is, it’s not something the team can bank on moving forward.
The 49ers led the league in hidden points a year ago, in large part due to their opponents’ blunders. We have to give credit where it’s due. Eddy Pineiro’s only miss was a rushed 64-yard attempt before halftime in Week 17.
That consistency, paired with the other team’s kickers, led the 49ers to having the highest total of hidden special teams points since the 2017 Rams. In fact, according to FTN’s database, it was the fifth-highest total since 1977. And to think the 49ers can improve on their 23rd-ranked punt team and 21st-ranked kickoff unit.
Water will find its level. Opposing kickers are going to make more than two-thirds of their kicks. Pineiro is probably going to miss a kick before Christmas. Last year proved that it’s better to be lucky than good if you’re the 49ers’ special teams units. Brant Boyer is hoping some of that luck seeps into the 2026 season.
