As the midseason mark approaches, we’re seeing some of the top award races in the NFL start to take shape, and the San Francisco 49ers definitely have a few worthy players in a couple of different spots.
Of course, there’s Brock Purdy, who was the MVP frontrunner a few weeks ago and remains playing at a high level, while leading a 7-1 49ers team. San Francisco also has a number of other stars who continue to be among the NFL’s best, which is why the team has regularly sent several players to the Pro
Bowl every year.
But which 49ers are excelling at the top of their position to be a potential All-Pro in 2026? At the midseason mark, let’s take a look at who could be in some of the award races and who could earn an All-Pro this year.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell compiled his midseason awards, which followed his quarter-season awards a few weeks back. Back then, Purdy was his No. 1 candidate for MVP. Now, he’s still in the mix, but at No. 2.
“As a positive play machine, Purdy was my MVP pick after four games, having thrown one interception while taking zero sacks through one month,” Barnwell wrote. “That’s no longer the case, with Purdy throwing four picks and taking eight sacks over the ensuing four games, including San Francisco’s first and only loss of the season at Atlanta. A bad Purdy interception with 2:42 to go and a chance to take the lead sealed it for the Falcons.
“Of course, Purdy is still running the league’s lowest sack rate at 3.3%. And in terms of creating good plays, he leads the league in QBR and EPA per dropback. He’s also No. 1 in success rate as a passer. And though Allen understandably gets plenty of attention as the league’s most significant running quarterback, Purdy isn’t far behind. He has been a valuable short-yardage option this season, with his 23 first downs as a runner ranking second behind Allen. He’s third in rushing EPA behind Allen and Drake Maye.
“Purdy’s numbers often get discounted by virtue of his offensive infrastructure, which is stocked with playmakers and operated by Kyle Shanahan. Though the 49ers have still had George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey on the field all season, and Mike Evans in the lineup for most of the season, Purdy deserves more of the credit for being the guy driving the offense. More than a third of his pass attempts have gone to players such as Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, and Demarcus Robinson, and Purdy has made them look good in the process. Evans looked revitalized after a down season (amid injuries) in Tampa Bay in 2025. [Trevor] Lawrence and Purdy would both be legitimate MVP picks. I just lean ever so slightly toward the guy in Cincinnati being the best in football.”
Joe Burrow’s numbers have been ridiculous this year, and the Bengals are winning. So it makes sense that he’s the MVP favorite midway through the season. But a couple of years after being on the MVP ballot, Purdy has a legitimate shot at being an All-Pro this year.
Christian McCaffrey will always be an All-Pro candidate, especially with the all-purpose spot, but it would be hard for him to earn the All-Pro honor at running back with the years Jahmyr Gibbs and Kenneth Walker are having. Those are the two Barnwell put on his midseason ballot.
However, Barnwell does have George Kittle as a first-team All-Pro at tight end, with Trey McBride coming in second. Kittle remains the best all-around tight end in football, as he does so much as a blocker. However, it feels like a part of this is because Brock Bowers was hurt for a few games earlier in the season, and with how statistics play into things, that might change by the end of the year.
Still, Kittle is firmly in that top three this year and could very well earn another All-Pro honor.
Trent Williams has looked like the best lineman in football this year, which is incredible at age 38. He was Barnwell’s pick for Protector of the Year at the quarter-season mark and now at the midway point of the season as well. He’s a clear contender for an All-Pro honor this year.
An underrated name at guard is Dominick Puni, who is quietly enjoying a very strong third season. He’s the second-best player on one of the top offensive lines in the NFL, and has continued to ascend as one of the best right guards in the NFL. He wasn’t on Barnwell’s ballot, but with four guard spots on the All-Pro list, he could very well earn some votes this season.
On the defensive side, Fred Warner is a true contender for Defensive Player of the Year. Barnwell had him second behind Will Anderson, who is having a monster season for the Houston Texans. It’s incredible considering he’s coming off a major injury.
“I mentioned the five forced fumbles earlier, which is something we aren’t supposed to see from off-ball linebackers. Those are the biggest plays Warner has made, but the future Hall of Famer has just been spectacularly efficient on a down-to-down basis,” Barnwell wrote. “He has made tackles on 20% of running plays, the second-best rate among starting linebackers.
“And then, of course, there’s no better linebacker in pass coverage in the league. Warner does a better job of taking away potential throws than any other linebacker, both by reading what quarterbacks are hoping to do and by running with potential receivers in coverage. His play somehow has not slipped after he dislocated his ankle a year ago. The 49ers are the league’s second-best defense by QBR against play-action throws to the middle, where teams are trying to move linebackers and throw behind them for big gains. Warner is the reason those throws aren’t working.”
Warner is a clear All-Pro candidate and remains the best linebacker in football.
Those are all the main candidates for the 49ers, but they could realistically have six All-Pro players this season, with some fighting for bigger awards as well. Brock Purdy is in the MVP race. Trent Williams is in the Protector of the Year race. Kyle Shanahan could win Coach of the Year. Fred Warner or George Kittle could be Comeback Player of the Year after coming back from injury. And Warner could win Defensive Player of the Year.
There’s been a lot of impressive performances for the 49ers this season.
