Is the 49ers' Super Bowl window truly closed?
Alona Yadav | Mar 12, 2025, 16:45 IST
( Image credit : AP )
The San Francisco 49ers face debates on their Super Bowl window due to significant roster changes and key player ages. Despite losing several starters, maintaining a strong foundation and strategic draft selections could sustain their competitiveness. Management decisions reflect long-term planning amid challenging transitions.
"Championship window" discussions often represent the lowest form of sports debate, with conclusions jumping ahead without considering the nuances in between. Let's take a more measured look at the San Francisco 49ers, whose Super Bowl window has become a hot topic following their recent roster exodus and last season's disappointing finish.
Should we declare "Here lies the San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl window, 2019-2024," or is there more to consider? Let's examine both sides of this argument.
The Case for a Closed Window
The 49ers have lost 11 of 22 Super Bowl starters from last season's team that fell to Kansas City in overtime. The departures over the past 10 days are significant:
These moves suggest general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan recognize they must prioritize youth and let developed players seek paydays elsewhere. Much of these savings will likely go toward quarterback Brock Purdy's next contract.
As Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons noted: "No more rookie QB lol welcome to reality."
The 49ers also face age concerns with key players. Left tackle Trent Williams turns 37 before next season, tight end George Kittle is 31 with an injury history, and running back Christian McCaffrey will be 29 when the season begins. Only Purdy and defensive end Nick Bosa remain relatively young core players, though both have experienced significant injuries.
Meanwhile, the NFC West rival Rams aren't declining, while the Eagles and Lions have emerged as conference powers.
From 2019-2023, the 49ers reached either the Super Bowl or NFC Championship Game four times, losing twice to Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs despite holding second-half leads. Shanahan's game management has been questionable at times, and the organization has experienced significant coaching and front office departures.
While the 49ers hold four picks in the top 100 of the upcoming draft, their recent draft history at the top hasn't been stellar. Their most successful picks have come in middle and late rounds – Warner (third), Greenlaw (fifth), Samuel (second), and of course Purdy (final pick in 2022).
Remember last year when everyone declared the Buffalo Bills' championship window closed? They secured the AFC's second seed and came one play away from the Super Bowl. Sometimes these conversations overlook fundamentals – when the foundation is strong, other factors matter less.
Running it back last season made sense, but doing so again in 2025 would have been irresponsible. Lynch and Shanahan made difficult decisions by letting good players walk. With Purdy's contract looming, retaining players like Banks, Moore, and Ward at their market rates ($167 million total) would have been fiscally reckless. Cheaper alternatives to Juszczyk exist, and the Samuel situation had reached a breaking point. This draft class offers good depth for both lines.
San Francisco still possesses enviable talent. If Williams maintains his elite play, he remains one of the NFL's most valuable offensive assets. McCaffrey must overcome his injuries, Aiyuk needs to return to pre-injury form quickly, and a sophomore leap from Ricky Pearsall would provide Shanahan another weapon to scheme open.
This is how well-managed organizations operate. Perhaps the 49ers should have trimmed salary sooner, but following a Super Bowl appearance, that would have been difficult to justify to ownership and fans.
Should we declare "Here lies the San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl window, 2019-2024," or is there more to consider? Let's examine both sides of this argument.
The Case for a Closed Window
The 49ers have lost 11 of 22 Super Bowl starters from last season's team that fell to Kansas City in overtime. The departures over the past 10 days are significant:
- Wide receiver Deebo Samuel traded to Washington for just a fifth-round pick
- Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who formed an elite duo with Fred Warner, signed with Denver
- Safety Talanoa Hufanga also joined the Broncos
- Guard Aaron Banks departed for Green Bay
- Tackle Jaylon Moore signed with the Chiefs
- Cornerback Charvarius Ward left for Indianapolis
- Veteran fullback Kyle Juszczyk was released
- Backup running back Elijah Mitchell signed with Kansas City
- Defensive linemen Javon Hargrave and Leonard Floyd were cut
These moves suggest general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan recognize they must prioritize youth and let developed players seek paydays elsewhere. Much of these savings will likely go toward quarterback Brock Purdy's next contract.
As Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons noted: "No more rookie QB lol welcome to reality."
The 49ers also face age concerns with key players. Left tackle Trent Williams turns 37 before next season, tight end George Kittle is 31 with an injury history, and running back Christian McCaffrey will be 29 when the season begins. Only Purdy and defensive end Nick Bosa remain relatively young core players, though both have experienced significant injuries.
Meanwhile, the NFC West rival Rams aren't declining, while the Eagles and Lions have emerged as conference powers.
From 2019-2023, the 49ers reached either the Super Bowl or NFC Championship Game four times, losing twice to Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs despite holding second-half leads. Shanahan's game management has been questionable at times, and the organization has experienced significant coaching and front office departures.
While the 49ers hold four picks in the top 100 of the upcoming draft, their recent draft history at the top hasn't been stellar. Their most successful picks have come in middle and late rounds – Warner (third), Greenlaw (fifth), Samuel (second), and of course Purdy (final pick in 2022).
The Case Against a Closed Window
Remember last year when everyone declared the Buffalo Bills' championship window closed? They secured the AFC's second seed and came one play away from the Super Bowl. Sometimes these conversations overlook fundamentals – when the foundation is strong, other factors matter less.
Running it back last season made sense, but doing so again in 2025 would have been irresponsible. Lynch and Shanahan made difficult decisions by letting good players walk. With Purdy's contract looming, retaining players like Banks, Moore, and Ward at their market rates ($167 million total) would have been fiscally reckless. Cheaper alternatives to Juszczyk exist, and the Samuel situation had reached a breaking point. This draft class offers good depth for both lines.
San Francisco still possesses enviable talent. If Williams maintains his elite play, he remains one of the NFL's most valuable offensive assets. McCaffrey must overcome his injuries, Aiyuk needs to return to pre-injury form quickly, and a sophomore leap from Ricky Pearsall would provide Shanahan another weapon to scheme open.
This is how well-managed organizations operate. Perhaps the 49ers should have trimmed salary sooner, but following a Super Bowl appearance, that would have been difficult to justify to ownership and fans.