According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Packers and head coach Matt LaFleur have agreed on a multiyear extend, and general manager Brian Gutekunst also has an extension with Green Bay in the works. They were both entering the final seasons of their contracts.
“Of course [I want to return]. This is one of one,” LaFleur said. “I love this place. I love the people. As much as you guys drive me nuts sometimes, I love you guys. I love our players, the locker room, everybody in our organization. This is a unique place … My kids love it here, my family loves it here.”
Packers president Ed Policy told reporters in June that he preferred to not have the “lame-duck” label placed on his head coach or general manager as that type of situation “creates a lot of issues.”
“I think normally, you have a pretty good idea of where that relationship is going when you have two years left — not always, but normally,” Policy said at the time. “But it creates a lot of issues because they also have to hire a staff … generally speaking, I would avoid lame-duck status. It’s oftentimes difficult on everybody involved, but there are certain situations that probably call for it. So I would not say never.”
Gutekunst, who was promoted to GM in 2018, hired LaFleur in January of 2019. Over seven seasons LaFleur has led the Packers to a 76-40-1 record, three NFC North titles and six playoff appearances, including back-to-back appearances in the NFC championship in his first two years in charge.
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Gutekunst headed the transition at quarterback from franchise legend Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love, as well as helped orchestrate the Micah Parsons trade. He’s been part of the Packers’ organization since 1999 when he started as a scout.
The last time the San Francisco 49ers met the Seattle Seahawks, it was the final game of the regular season and the Seahawks defeated them 13-3. The two NFC West rivals meet again this Saturday for a divisional round playoff game that will ultimately decide who advances to the NFC Championship game on Jan. 25 — and if the 49ers can manage to win the next two games, they’ll be playing in the Super Bowl on their home field, Levi’s Stadium, on Feb. 8, which would mark just the third time in NFL history that a team has played a championship game in their own stadium.
The 49ers vs. Seahawks game will kick off at 8 p.m. ET this Saturday on Fox. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the divisional playoff game and get the full weekend schedule for the rest of the playoffs.
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How to watch the San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks:
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks game time:
The 49ers vs. Seahawks game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT this Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks game channel:
The game between the 49ers and the Seahawks will air on FOX.
How to watch the San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks game without cable:
You can stream FOX on platforms like DirecTV and Fubo, and the game will also be available on FOX’s streaming platform FOX One. You can also tune in on NFL+ for mobile viewing.
bundle FOX One with ESPN’s newly revamped streaming service for $39.99/month.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks, 8:00 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026
Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears: 6:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
How to watch NFL games in 2026:
Many NFL games are broadcast on local channels, so if you’re looking to catch an in-market game, it may be as simple as turning on your TV (or setting up a digital TV antenna) or finding a live TV streaming service that carries the correct RSN (Regional Sports Network). If you want to watch out-of-market games, a $7 monthly subscription to NFL+ will let you watch every out-of-market-game local and primetime game in the season on your phone — but only a select few regular season games on your TV. You could also spring for the uber-expensive NFL Sunday Ticket package to get every out-of-market Sunday game of the season.
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When it comes to nationally broadcast games, NFL games typically air across ESPN, NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC and NFL Network. Thursday Night Football games stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, select football games will stream exclusively on Peacock, games on CBS will stream live on Paramount+, and Monday Night Football games will air on ESPN or ABC and stream on the newly revamped ESPN+ this season. That’s six channels and four streaming platforms to keep up with this season — and that’s not counting your local RSN’s for in-market games and an NFL+ or NFL Sunday Ticket subscription for out-of-market games. And we can’t forget about Fox One, Fox’s first streaming service, a place where you can also stream games airing on FOX (if you don’t already have access to it).
Confused? You’re not alone. Here’s a breakdown of the platforms we recommend checking out ahead of the 2025 NFL season, so that come game time, tuning into your favorite team’s games will be as easy as simply turning on the TV.
Long after the game, Broncos head coach Sean Payton came back to the media room to announce that quarterback Bo Nix broke a bone in his ankle on the second-to-last play of the game and would undergo season-ending ankle surgery Tuesday.
Payton said he wanted to tell his team the news first, but came back to the media room to announce the injury because “the odds of something like this being kept quiet” until he could meet with the team Monday were “impossible.”
Stidham has started four games in his NFL career, none since starting two for the Broncos in 2023. Payton said he had confidence in his backup taking over as the starter for the rest of the playoffs.
“He’s ready,” Payton said. “I said this before the season, I feel like I’ve got a two that is capable of starting for a number of teams. Watch out. Just watch.”
Nix, in his second NFL season, helped the Broncos to a dramatic 33-30 overtime win on Saturday over the Bills. He threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns. The Broncos went 14-3 in the regular season with Nix at quarterback and got past the Bills to advance to their first AFC championship game since the 2015 season, but now need to turn to Stidham, who hasn’t thrown a pass in either of the last two seasons.
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“They’ll be disappointed,” Payton said. “There will be a lot of emotions. Then the refocus takes place.”
Although the Atlanta Falcons finished strong, winning their final four games of the season, a second consecutive eight-win finish wasn’t enough to save Raheem Morris’ job. So Atlanta set out to find a new head coach, and they’ve found that new leader.
This is the second hire of the current coaching cycle, following the New York Giants’ grab of former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. Seven NFL head coaching positions remain open, including Stefanski’s and Harbaugh’s former AFC North homes in Cleveland and Baltimore.
Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Stefanski was set to interview with the Ravens and Tennessee Titans for a second time, but the Falcons moved in to secure him. That’s the second time a Titans interview has fallen through in this cycle, as the same thing happened when they were supposed to meet Harbaugh after his initial talks with the Giants.
The Browns fired Stefanski after six seasons with the team. Stefanski finished 46-58 and led the Browns to two playoff appearances and earned two NFL Coach of the Year awards. Before becoming the Browns’ head coach, he spent 14 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and was the offensive coordinator under former head coach Mike Zimmer for his last two seasons with the team.
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Can the Falcons break through with Kevin Stefanski?
Stefanski takes over a team with pieces in place that feel like it’s ready to break through. Atlanta hasn’t had a winning season since 2017, finishing 10-6 that year and being eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The new coaching regime in Atlanta inherits a team full of talent that will be expected to compete soon: Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Penix had his 2025 campaign ended early due to an ACL injury.
Penix was the No. 8 overall draft pick in 2024, and in his second NFL season became the full-time starter for the Falcons, posting a 3-6 record. Despite the losing record, Penix played well in 2025, passing for 1,982 yards, 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. With the right guidance, his 88.5 passer rating and 57.1 QBR could improve greatly.
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Early in the 2025 season, it seemed like the Falcons might be turning the corner after beginning 3-2. The Falcons then went on to lose five games in a row and seven out of eight, as they plummeted to 4-9. By the time Morris’ team bounced back over the last month of the season, it was too late.
Atlanta is set up to compete immediately with a much-improved defense and offense that has the potential of becoming one of the most explosive in the NFL. Playing in the NFC South is also a huge advantage as the Falcons finished the season tied record-wise with Carolina and Tampa Bay, but lost the division due to tiebreakers.
The Buffalo Bills had already converted a pair of third downs on the road in overtime during Saturday’s AFC divisional-round playoff game against the Denver Broncos.
It looked like they moved the chains again when veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks reeled in a downfield hurl from reigning NFL MVP quarterback Josh Allen.
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But when Cooks rolled over after hitting the ground, Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian emerged with the ball. The ruling on the field was “interception.”
Bills head coach Sean McDermott said postgame that he believes Cooks made a catch and was down by contact.
“It’s hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled,” McDermott said at the podium. “If it is ruled that way, then why wasn’t it slowed down just to make sure that we have this right. That would have made a lot of sense to me. … Because that’s a pivotal play in the game. [We’d] have the ball at the 20 and may be kicking a game-winning field goal right there.
“So I’ll just leave it at that.”
But McDermott didn’t.
Impassioned, he suddenly added:
“But I’m saying it because I’m standing up for Buffalo, damn it. I’m standing up for us. Because what went on is not how it should go down, in my estimation. These guys spend three hours out there playing football, pouring their guts out. To not even say, ‘Hey, let’s just slow this thing down.’
“The receiver has to complete the process of a catch,” Cheffers said. “He was going to the ground as part of the process of the catch, and he lost possession of the ball when he hit the ground. The defender gained possession of it at that point. The defender is the one that completed the process of the catch, so the defender was awarded the ball.”
Cheffers was then asked if the ball hit the ground.
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“No,” he said. “That was confirmed in the replay process. The interception was confirmed.”
And that interception marked the Bills’ fifth turnover of the day. The Broncos ended up scoring 16 points off those giveaways, including three to win the game in the subsequent minutes on a 23-yard Wil Lutz field goal.
That kick was made possible by a pair of defensive pass interference penalties.
The first was called on Buffalo nickel Taron Johnson, who was covering Denver receiver Courtland Sutton. The second was called on Bills standout cornerback Tre’Davious White as he tried to break up a pass intended for Broncos wideout Marvin Mims Jr.
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Together, those infractions cost the Bills’ defense 47 yards.
White was irate about his DPI penalty, which slingshotted the Broncos 30 yards to the Bills’ 8-yard line and set up a first-and-goal that preceded Lutz’s game-winning kick.
It was the culmination of a frustrating game for Buffalo, which again saw its Super Bowl dreams vanish despite gaining 449 yards and going a combined 11 of 16 on third and fourth down. The controversial calls will fuel discussion, but the Bills’ turnover-heavy performance on the road will also be dissected.
The Denver Broncos defeated the Buffalo Bills in their AFC divisional round playoff game, 33-30, in overtime. But the penalty that led to Denver’s game-winning field goal was controversial enough that Buffalo fans will be questioning it throughout the offseason.
After the Broncos took over following an interception by Ja’Quan McMillian, quarterback Bo Nix threw a pass to Marvin Mims Jr. down the left sideline. However, Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White was called for pass interference on the play, costing Buffalo 30 yards and giving Denver a first-and-goal at the 8-yard line.
White appeared to collide with Mims before the ball reached him, in addition to pulling on the receiver’s left arm. That’s presumably what drew the flag.
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However, the veteran defensive back vigorously disagreed with the call and slammed his helmet to the ground while arguing with a referee. That drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. With the ball already at the 8-yard line, the penalty moved Denver half the distance to the goal line to the 5-yard line.
A game-winning field goal from Wil Lutz was likely even before White’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. But getting three yards closer certainly didn’t hurt his chances of sending the Broncos to the AFC championship game.
Nix followed with a kneeldown to put Lutz in the best position for the kick and the nine-year veteran easily kicked a 23-yard field goal, right through the middle of the uprights, for the Broncos’ first playoff victory since 2015.
The call on White was actually the second pass interference penalty in three plays during Denver’s winning drive. Two plays earlier, Taron Johnson was flagged for interfering with Courtland Sutton on a 17-yard play on second-and-10 from the Broncos’ 47-yard line.
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“The first one was an arm grab,” referee Carl Cheffers explained postgame to pool reporter Jeff Legwold. “The defender held the receiver’s right arm down, which prevented him from going up for the pass with two hands.”
“The second was early contact and an arm grab that materially restricted the receiver,” Cheffers added.
Those two plays accounted for 47 yards worth of penalties in approximately one minute and 26 seconds.
Combine those plays with the Broncos gaining possession on a questionable interception in which it could be argued that Brandin Cooks either didn’t have control of the ball or was down by contact when he and McMillian hit the ground, and Bills fans have three moments that will keep them hot with rage.
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They’ll likely be angry through the night, if not for the next seven to eight months while a team besides theirs has an opportunity to win the Super Bowl yet again.
Venus Williams will step onto the court for her first round match at the 2026 Australian Open tonight, where she’ll face Serbian tennis player Olga Danilovic. Williams, 45, enters this tournament as a wild card with a WTA ranking of 145. Danilovic, 24, is currently ranked at 68. The pair will face off at John Cain Arena late tonight, with an estimated start time of around 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT tonight, following the Tiafoe vs. Kubler match.
Tournament coverage will air across ESPN and ESPN2. The entire tournament — including qualifying — will be available to stream for ESPN Unlimited subscribers. Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 Australian Open.
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How to watch Venus Williams play tonight:
Date: Sunday, January 18
Time (estimated): 3 a.m. ET — after Tiafoe vs. Kubler
Location: John Cain Arena
TV channel: ESPN2
Streaming: ESPN+
When does Venus Williams play at the 2026 Australian Open?
Venus Williams plays her first round at the Australian Open tonight around 3 a.m. ET. Williams will play against Serbia’s Olga Danilovic.
Venus Williams vs. Olga Danilovic match start time:
Tonight’s first round match between Williams and Danilovic is estimated to start around 3 a.m., following the Tiafoe vs. Kubler match, which is scheduled for 1 a.m. ET.
Australian Open channel:
In the U.S., the Australian Open will air on ESPN, with the entire tournament streaming on ESPN+ for Unlimited subscribers. Select tournament coverage will also air on ESPN2, before moving to ESPN for the semifinals and beyond.
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How to watch the 2026 Australian Open:
Sling Orange, which includes ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, Disney Channel, and 30 more with no other subscriptions or commitment necessary. No strings attached.
Where to watch the 2026 Australian Open without cable:
If you want to catch every match of the Australian Open and don’t currently subscribe to ESPN+, cable or a live TV streaming service, in Australia a majority of the action will be streaming free with ads on 9Now.
Don’t live in the land down under? Don’t worry, you can still stream like you do with the help of a VPN. A VPN (virtual private network) helps protect your data, can mask your IP address and is perhaps most popular for being especially useful in the age of streaming. Whether you’re looking to watch Friends on Netflix (which left the U.S. version of the streamer back in 2019) or tune in to tennis coverage without a cable package, a VPN can help you out. Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user.
9Now. Plus it’s Engadget’s pick for the best premium VPN. ExpressVPN offers three tiers of subscriptions: The Basic Plan (starting at $3.49/month), the Advanced Plan (starting at $4.49/month) and the Pro Plan (starting at $7.49/month).
ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you’re nervous about trying a VPN.
Australian Open 2026 schedule:
All times Eastern
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Saturday, January 17
(Day 1) Men’s and Women’s 1st Round: 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 18
(Day 1) Men’s and Women’s 1st Round: 3:00 a.m.
(Day 2) Men’s and Women’s 1st Round: 7:00 p.m.
Monday, January 19
(Day 2) Men’s and Women’s 1st Round: 3:00 a.m.
(Day 3) Men’s and Women’s 1st Round: 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 20
(Day 3) Men’s and Women’s 1st Round: 3:00 a.m.
(Day 4) Men’s and Women’s 2nd Round: 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 21
(Day 4) Men’s and Women’s 2nd Round: 3:00 a.m.
(Day 5) Men’s and Women’s 2nd Round: 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 22
(Day 5) Men’s and Women’s 2nd Round: 3:00 a.m.
(Day 6) Men’s and Women’s 3rd Round: 7:00 p.m.
Friday, January 23
(Day 6) Men’s and Women’s 3rd Round: 3:00 a.m.
(Day 7) Men’s and Women’s 3rd Round: 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 24
(Day 7) Men’s and Women’s 3rd Round: 3:00 a.m.
(Day 8) Men’s and Women’s 4th Round: 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 25
(Day 8) Men’s and Women’s 4th Round: 3:00 a.m.
(Day 9) Men’s and Women’s 4th Round: 7:00 p.m.
Monday, January 26
(Day 9) Men’s and Women’s 4th Round: 3:00 a.m.
(Day 10) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 27
(Day 10) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 3:00 a.m.
(Day 11) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 28
(Day 11) Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals: 3:00 a.m.
(Day 12) Women’s Semifinals: 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 29
(Day 13) Men’s Semifinal: 8:00 p.m.
Friday, January 30
(Day 13) Men’s Semifinal: 3:30 a.m.
Saturday, January 31
(Day 14) Women’s Final: 3:30 a.m.
Sunday, February 1
(Day 15) Men’s Final: 3:30 a.m.
Who is playing in the 2026 Australian Open?
The top 10 seeded players for the singles draws are listed below.
Men’s singles seeds for the Australian Open 2026
1. Carlos Alcaraz
2. Jannik Sinner
3. Alexander Zverev
4. Novak Djokovic
5. Felix Auger-Aliassime
Women’s singles seeds for the Australian Open 2026
1. Aryna Sabalenka
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2. Iga Swiatek
3. Amanda Anisimova
4. Coco Gauff
5. Elena Rybakina
Australian Open prize money:
For 2026, the men’s and women’s singles winners of the Australian Open each get $4,150,000, with the runner-up receiving $2,150,000 and Semi-finalists $1,250,000.
But Nix had stepped up in the second half of the season, passing for more than 300 yards three times while mixing in some timely rushing plays.
Nix passed for 279 yards and three touchdowns against the Bills on Saturday, also rushing for 29 yards on 12 carries.
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The Seattle Seahawks are now the favorites to win it all at +160, followed by the Los Angeles Rams at +325 and the New England Patriots at +450.
The Houston Texans are +700 to win the Super Bowl, and the Chicago Bears have the longest odds at +1400.
While the Broncos aren’t a big liability for BetMGM in terms of the Super Bowl, there are several large futures wagers on Denver still alive, which are hugely impacted by the loss of Nix. They include:
$100,000 on Broncos to win the Super Bowl at +900 odds to win $900,000
$100,000 on Broncos to win AFC Championship at +350 odds to win $350,000
Denver will now be an underdog of around a field goal when it hosts either New England or Houston next Sunday in the AFC Championship.
DENVER — Nick Foles went from backup quarterback to starter to Super Bowl MVP for the Philadelphia Eagles at the end of the 2017 season. But he had three regular-season starts to get prepared for the playoffs after Carson Wentz went down.
Jeff Hostetler got two regular-season starts for the 1990 New York Giants after Phil Simms suffered a season-ending injury, and that got him ready to lead the Giants to a Super Bowl XXV win.
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Kurt Warner took over for Trent Green and led the 1999 Rams to a title, but he was the starter all season.
What the Denver Broncos are about to embark upon is tough to draw a reasonable comparison to. Long after the Broncos’ fantastic 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC’s divisional round, Broncos head coach Sean Payton returned to the media room, which is highly unusual. He announced that on the second-to-last play of the game, his quarterback Bo Nix suffered a broken bone in his right ankle and is done for the rest of the season.
“They’ll be disappointed,” Payton said. “There will be a lot of emotions. Then the refocus takes place.”
Once the shock wore off, the question became: What does this mean for the Broncos as they get ready for the AFC championship game?
Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury near the end of the team’s playoff win over the Bills. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Stidham has not thrown a pass in either of the last two seasons. He has four starts in his NFL career, two with the Raiders in 2022 and two more with the Broncos in 2023. His teams went 1-3 in those games.
Payton has been high on Stidham, who is on his second contract with the Broncos. His first, signed in 2023, was for $10 million. The one he signed before this season was for $12 million. That’s good money for a backup, even though the Broncos haven’t had to use him.
Like Dick Vermeil, the Rams head coach who promised in 1999 after Green’s injury that “We will rally around Kurt Warner, and we will play good football,” Payton was confident and even a bit defiant about having to turn to Stidham.
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“He’s ready,” Payton said. “I said this before the season, I feel like I’ve got a two that is capable of starting for a number of teams. Watch out. Just watch.”
The numbers don’t look that great. In 197 career NFL passes, Stidham has 1,422 yards, 8 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. That’s a passer rating of 78.3, which would get most NFL starters benched. But it’s not like the Broncos have much choice.
The good news is they revolve around a very good defense that finished third in the NFL in points allowed and second in yards allowed during the regular season. The Broncos will have to run it effectively on offense, and they were a middle-of-the-road running team during the season (16th in yards, 15th in yards per attempt).
And they’ll need Stidham to do his job when called upon. Stidham isn’t the runner that Nix is (just 101 yards on 37 attempts), so Payton will have to change the way he calls an offense. He, and Stidham, have a week to prepare for that.
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“He’s experienced,” Payton said. “He has played in games. They’re different type players to some degree, and yet, they’re very close friends, as with Sam [Ehlinger, the Broncos’ quarterback behind Stidham]. It’s a tight room. Sam will be our two, and here we go.”
Stidham’s first NFL pass since Jan. 7, 2024 will come in a game with a Super Bowl trip on the line. The Broncos have a challenge ahead.
Big edge for Broncos’ AFC opponent
The Nix injury changes the landscape of the rest of the playoffs. Whoever wins between the Texans and Patriots will be expected to win again against a team with a seldom-used backup quarterback.
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It’s never that easy in the NFL. Payton has confidence in Stidham for a reason. The Broncos aren’t reliant on their quarterback to win games, either. The Texans or Patriots will still be facing one of the NFL’s best defenses in Denver, which is tough to play at due to the high altitude. But it’s clearly an edge for the winner of Sunday’s Texans-Patriots game. And, if the Broncos advance to Super Bowl LX despite not having Nix, it will be an edge for the NFC champion there, whether it be the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams or Chicago Bears.
One of the four teams that will be playing next weekend just lost its starting quarterback suddenly. That has an obvious effect on everyone else still vying for a title.
There is also a question about Nix for next season, though he has rebounded from a broken ankle before. Payton said that Nix had the injury in high school, and he broke his ankle during the 2021 season as well when he was at Auburn.
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“I said, ‘I didn’t realize that. If I would have known that I wouldn’t have drafted you,’” Payton said, making a joke in a discouraging moment for the Broncos. “He’s a tough cookie.”
Nix returned in 2022 at Oregon after the ankle injury and threw for 3,593 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Teams deal with injuries all the time. Rarely is it a season-ending injury to a quarterback right before a conference championship game. The Broncos will be ready. And if they can overcome Nix’s injury, it will be quite a story.
2025 season record: 12-5 (o 10.5 wins), third in NFC West, lost to Seahawks in divisional round, 10th in DVOA
Overview
Backing the 49ers going into 2025 was mostly based on two ideas. One, the 49ers were going to be healthier than they were in 2024 when they led the league in adjusted games lost to injuries by a wide margin. Two, as a fourth-place team, San Francisco was also expected to have one of the league’s easiest schedules. A healthy Niners team would be expected to dominate weaker opponents. Neither of those things happened. The 49ers were decimated by injuries almost immediately and by DVOA, the 49ers played the sixth-hardest schedule in the league.
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Still, San Francisco won 12 games and played for the No. 1 seed in the NFC during the regular-season finale, then got a road playoff win at the Eagles. This might have been Kyle Shanahan’s best coaching job. When Brock Purdy went down, Mac Jones was a top-10 quarterback by EPA per play. Then Purdy returned and was the most efficient quarterback in the league by that same metric. Christian McCaffrey was the healthy 49er, somehow, and his impact opened up the passing game for whoever was throwing the ball. The offensive success lifted a defense that had tried its best but couldn’t overcome all the losses, most notably those of Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.
Backing the Niners again in 2026 could hinge on the same ideas as it did heading into this season — but now there’s proof that if things don’t break the right way, it might not matter.
Cap/cuts outlook
San Francisco has just under $38.5 million in effective salary cap space, which ranks 10th this offseason, per Over The Cap. The biggest move the 49ers will make is the likely release of Brandon Aiyuk. There were reports during the year that the team voided the future guarantees in the receiver’s contract and Aiyuk did not oppose. Still, for the 49ers to recoup money on the cap, they would need to designate the receiver as a post-June 1 cut. That would free up about $7 million in 2026 and $20 million in 2027, with a $21 million dead cap hit in that season. The 49ers could also open up $17 million in cap space with a restructure of Nick Bosa.
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Key pending free agents
WR Jauan Jennings TE Jake Tonges DE Yetur Gross-Matos
Jauan Jennings went from plucky seventh-round draft pick to Kyle Shanahan’s third-down pet project to a legitimate every-down receiver. Jennings led the team with nine receiving touchdowns and was second on the team in target share. Tonges stepped up to add another receiving threat in heavier personnel groupings. He caught 4-of-5 end zone targets for touchdowns. Gross-Matos missed time during the season but was a player defensive coordinator Robert Saleh threw inside on passing downs to get a little more juice in the pass rush.
Positional needs
Edge Guard Linebacker
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Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams were both lost for the season and the edge depth behind them was nonexistent. Bryce Huff can be a good pass-rush specialist, but his effectiveness diminishes when he has to play a bigger role. The 49ers finished 30th in pressure rate.
Ben Bartch was hurt in Week 2 and then mixed in only as a sub when he returned. Dominick Puni struggled on the right side while both Connor Colby and Spencer Burford had a blown block rate over 5% at left guard, according to Sports Info Solutions.
Fred Warner is a superhero and his impact was felt when he was injured. With Warner on the field, the 49ers ranked 14th in EPA per play. That dropped to 28th without him. Even with Warner on the field, the Niners could use more depth at linebacker behind or with Dee Winters.
Usually, playoff losses, especially as we get deeper into the postseason, inspire some long think pieces about why a team fell short and what it says about their operation. For the 49ers, this was simply an inferior team, largely thanks to a bounty of injuries, that punched above its weight all season but finally ran out of gas against the best team in football.
As long as Kyle Shanahan is the head coach and architect of the offense, this will be a good ecosystem worth investing in. The fact that they made it this far with this banged-up roster is proof. People still have big feelings about Brock Purdy but he had some excellent moments late in the season once he got healthy and shook off the rust. That’s a great foundation combination. We can just expect the pieces orbiting the head coach and quarterback to look different as the 49ers continue to turn the page from their excellent past toward a future that they hope will feature many more contending teams. — Matt Harmon
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Good draft fit
Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
The 49ers’ defense is in decent shape barring yet another heinous run of injuries. (That can’t happen again, right? Right?) So they should focus on protecting Brock Purdy, and Freeling would make a great understudy for 37-year-old Trent Williams. Freeling is an explosive athlete who can anchor well and has cleaned up mistakes over his college career.
Betting nugget
The 49ers had the easiest schedule as measured by preseason opponent win totals in the NFL, which helped them get to 12 regular-season wins. San Francisco also took care of business in games it was supposed to win, going 10-1 straight up (8-2-1 against the spread) as a favorite. — Ben Fawkes
