Look, I promise I’m not trying to pick at an old wound or wounds. Under Kyle Shanahan, the San Francisco 49ers have won plenty of regular-season games and big playoff games. Unfortunately, the ultimate prize has eluded them. Many factors contribute to a Super Bowl win, including luck, believe it or not. The NFL playoff format isn’t like other sports. Losing one game doesn’t mean you’re on to game two with a chance to even the series. One loss and the dream is over.
The 49ers have had several formidable
teams and chances to finish the job, but which 49ers team should have a Lombardi?
The easy answer is all of them, but for this exercise, let’s choose one of the three options. The 2021 49ers won’t be included in this but should be noted as an honorable mention, with the team coming within minutes of meeting the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl.
2019
Following two losing seasons under Shanahan, the 2019 49ers raced out to a huge lead in the NFC before suffering their first loss to Seattle on MNF at Levi’s Stadium. It’s hard to say if this team was ahead of schedule, but the addition of Nick Bosa, Dre Greenlaw, and Deebo Samuel added juice to the roster, and all three were vital for the team at different points.
We all can see Raheem Mostert tearing up the Packers’ defense in the NFC Championship Game. In the Super Bowl, the 49ers held a ten-point lead before the dam broke, and the Chiefs’ offense finished the job to win the first championship for Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. This loss is particularly heartbreaking due to the blown lead and the missed opportunities to close out the game.
The 49ers’ pass rush of Bosa, DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, and Dee Ford is unlikely to be duplicated for the duration of the Shanahan era. Knowing this game was Joe Staley’s final game as a 49er is brutal.
2022
The wildest season under Shanahan has to be 2022. The season began with Trey Lance starting before he broke his ankle. Jimmy Garoppolo, who was a cardio king at training camp that year, waiting for a trade, stepped in and kept the 49ers steady before breaking his foot and ending his season. That’s where the legend of Brock Purdy begins. The last pick in the draft took over against Miami, and the rest is history.
The 49ers rolled over Seattle in the Wild Card round and survived against Dallas in the Divisional round. The stage was set for a battle against Philadelphia with a trip to the Super Bowl and a rematch with the Chiefs on the line. Purdy was injured early in the game, as was his backup, Josh Johnson, and the 49ers ran out of quarterbacks. The three-quarterback rule was born that day, but the 49ers looked primed to roll into the Super Bowl.
2022 is the biggest “what if” season for the 49ers under Shanahan.
2023
This season has my vote. The 49ers had the best injury luck under Shanahan until the Super Bowl, where Jon Feliciano and Dre Greenlaw were knocked out of the game. Think about this: the 49ers lost three games in 2023, and all three were in the same streak. Other than that, the regular season was flawless. Christian McCaffrey was unstoppable, Purdy played some of his best football, a wide receiver wearing number 11 was insanely efficient, and the 49ers even pushed back on the “can’t come back” narrative with two victories in the playoffs, including the insane NFC Championship comeback against Detroit.
The Super Bowl had everything, literally. Jauan Jennings threw a touchdown pass; McCaffrey fumbled on the opening drive; the 49ers’ defense held strong for the majority of the game; Ji’Ayir Brown intercepted Mahomes; Jake Moody set the Super Bowl record for the longest field goal; Ray-Ray McCloud had a costly special teams error, and the 49ers became the first team to score in overtime and lose in a Super Bowl.
Unfortunately, things will never line up as perfectly as they did in 2o23. It felt like the team was destined to finish the job after a wonderful season.
Great, now I’m sad. Which 49ers team would you vote for? All three are great answers, but you have to choose one.
