San Francisco 49ers fans take stock of season at final home game
49ers Foundation partners with 826 Valencia
The 49ers Foundation is making big moves off the field. It announced a multi-year partnership with 826 Valencia, a San Francisco nonprofit that empowers under-resourced students through the power of writing. Justin Prettyman, the executive director of the 49ers Foundation, joined us on 'The Nine' for more insight.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - For the San Francisco 49ers, it was a season that started with high hopes. With the team officially out of the playoffs, fans may be disappointed, but they are still holding their heads high.
Monday night’s game at Levi’s Stadium is a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship Game as the 49ers take on the Detroit Lions.
While the season did not work out the way most fans had hoped, there is a belief the team will come back stronger next season.
As the gates opened on Monday for the final home game of the season for the 49ers, the enthusiasm was high. The tailgating was in full force, and spirits were lifted. Fans all had slightly different takes on what happened this season, but injuries were at the top of the list.
"Injuries killed us. You know we are a great team, but you have got to have the players. You lose a player, you can’t just replace them with the salary cap," said Tom Marovich, a season ticket holder.
Fan Jorge Davila said, "Coming into the season, we were hoping to be back in the playoffs, in the Super Bowl, but injuries and, you know, that is the way it is with football."
It seemed not a week went by during the regular season without more bad news for the team on the injury front, with key position players including Christian McCaffrey, Nick Bosa, Brandon Aiyuk, Trent Williams, Jordan Mason, Dre Greenlaw, Mitch Wishnowsky, and even quarterback Brock Purdy missing one or more games.
Fans said it's not just about the injuries, as sometimes the season just does not work out in their team's favor for other reasons like strength of schedule and even a bit of, or a lack of, luck. But fans are hopeful the team will be back even stronger next year.
"Well, I think they are going to have to clean the house a little bit. I think there will be a good amount of changes. Extend [Brock] Purdy a little bit. Kyle [Shanahan] knows what he is doing, John Lynch will do good. Get a few good draft picks, O-line and D-line, I think we will be good," said fan Gunnar Geringer, who was near the front of the line to get into Monday night’s game.