The San Francisco 49ers concluded their 2025 season weeks ago with a heavy 41-6 defeat at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks, capping off a year marked by unpredictability. Despite the disappointing playoff exit, the 49ers had achieved a 12-5 regular season record and secured a significant road playoff victory in Philadelphia. Tight end George Kittle recently offered his assessment of what the 2025 season meant for the team, focusing on accomplishment in the face of numerous injuries rather than dwelling on how the season ended.
Kittle Assigns a Strong Grade to the Team’s Resilience
Kittle awarded the 49ers a solid A or B+ for their performance throughout the 2025 season, emphasizing the context beyond just the final playoff loss. His grading was rooted in the team’s ability to win consistently despite battling injuries to multiple key players.
“I missed the first couple of weeks. We lost Brock Purdy for several weeks. Then we lost Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and we still won 13 games,”
Kittle said. “Jeez Louise, boys—good job.”
The 49ers endured long absences from five of their six highest-paid players. Brock Purdy missed multiple weeks due to turf toe, while Nick Bosa and Fred Warner combined appeared in only nine regular season games. Kittle himself was sidelined for the first two games. Despite this, San Francisco finished with 12 wins and earned a playoff berth. He pointed out that beating the defending champions on the road in Philadelphia reinforced the team’s deserving grade.
Before the season began, many analysts labeled the 49ers a rebuilding team, citing losses of key personnel and limited spending in free agency. Kittle acknowledged this perception but stressed San Francisco’s ability to defy those expectations by remaining competitive with a depleted roster.
Although the team fell short of its ultimate ambition to win the Super Bowl, Kittle insisted that the season’s overall performance warranted respect for the group’s resilience and unity.
“Winning 13 games as a team who lost 5 of their 6 most expensively paid players for an extended period of time is pretty awesome,”
Kittle stated.
“So I give it an A or B+, we’ll go with that.”
Impact of Injuries on the 49ers’ Season Dynamics
From the outset, the 49ers confronted significant adversity. Brock Purdy’s turf toe injury in the opening game disrupted San Francisco’s offensive flow. Backup quarterback Mac Jones filled in admirably with a 5-3 record as a starter, yet the offense lacked the same rhythm without Purdy guiding it.
On defense, the absence of Nick Bosa and Fred Warner was especially detrimental. Both veterans anchor the defensive unit, and their extended time off the field exposed vulnerable areas that opposing teams exploited. The defensive struggles intensified as key players remained sidelined.
In the playoffs, Kittle suffered a torn Achilles during the Wild Card Round victory in Philadelphia, prematurely ending his season. Meanwhile, Christian McCaffrey was one of the few offensive stars to maintain health for the majority of the campaign but showed signs of fatigue by the time the team faced Seattle.
Although injuries are part of any NFL season, losing top talent simultaneously on both sides of the ball challenged the 49ers in unique ways. Their ability to stay afloat amid these setbacks, as Kittle emphasized, was a defining feature of the season.
Young players gained meaningful experience stepping into larger roles, while depth players were tested under pressure. Even with inconsistencies, the team avoided collapse, finishing with a winning record and reaching the postseason—a significant achievement in a season many predicted they would miss the playoffs entirely.
Kyle Shanahan’s Leadership Under Fire and Praise
Despite not earning the Coach of the Year award, Kyle Shanahan’s handling of the injury-riddled roster stood out during the 2025 season. He guided the 49ers to 12 wins and orchestrated a notable playoff upset on the road in Philadelphia, managing to keep the team competitive across most games despite missing key contributors.
Kittle’s positive evaluation of the season also underscores his belief that Shanahan’s coaching was instrumental in this overachievement. Shanahan tailored game plans to the available players, leaned heavily on depth, and maintained focus within the locker room throughout turbulent times.
The road playoff victory against the defending champions validated Shanahan’s approach and highlighted his capacity to adapt strategy despite challenges.
Outlook on the 49ers Following a Challenging 2025 Season
Kittle’s grade of A or B+ encapsulates San Francisco’s 2025 campaign as a year of grit amid hardship. Winning 12 games with a heavily depleted roster and securing a playoff win presents the season as a success in many respects. The harsh loss to Seattle should not overshadow these accomplishments or define the team’s narrative.
Looking ahead, the 2026 offseason will be pivotal for the 49ers as they aim to capitalize on this foundation. General manager John Lynch faces urgent needs to improve the offensive line and add depth at wide receiver. Nevertheless, Kittle’s optimism reflects confidence in the team’s core, coaching, and culture.
Health remains the most critical factor for San Francisco’s championship aspirations. The team’s recent years have been marred by significant injuries, and avoiding another prolonged wave will be essential to their future success. Kittle believes that if the roster stays healthy, the 49ers possess the talent to compete at the highest level. This optimism is echoed by Brock Purdy, who recently asserted he gives San Francisco a 100 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl in 2026.
Far from being a rebuilding franchise, the 49ers are in a phase of retooling, with Shanahan’s adjustments and a resilient roster positioning them well. While the 2025 season did not conclude how fans hoped, it was far from a failure.
George Kittle was asked to grade the 49ers on their 2025 season:
“I missed the first couple of weeks. We lost Brock Purdy for several weeks. Then we lost Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and we still won 13 games. Jeez Louise, boys— good job. Everyone told me it was a rebuilding year… pic.twitter.com/KUL1ZYx0qa
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) February 11, 2026
