49ers can finally put their chaotic offseason behind them

The San Francisco 49ers open their 2026 season Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, in the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia. 

The 49ers will kick off at 8:35 p.m. ET on Netflix, beginning a season that could not come soon enough for an organization that spent much of the offseason making headlines for reasons that have little to do with football.

49ers coming off eventful offseason

It started with head coach Kyle Shanahan's bizarre car accident. Shanahan suffered a broken nose, three fractured ribs, a broken wrist, 40 facial stitches and a severe concussion in a July 14 crash. The accident was not made public for 11 days. Shanahan later explained that his phone had fallen off his lap and got stuck in his seat. He took his eyes off the road to find it, causing his vehicle to cross into oncoming traffic. Shanahan took responsibility for the crash and spent the beginning of training camp limited while recovering.

Then there was the team's owner. Jed York pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors in Ohio — disorderly conduct and possession of a criminal tool — after being arrested in East Palestine. A more serious initial allegation involving prostitution was dropped, but York's case still became another unwanted headline for the 49ers during the summer.

As if that wasn't enough, the 49ers somehow became the subject of an electrical-substation conspiracy theory.

After San Francisco's injury problems reached absurd levels during the 2025 season, theories emerged that electromagnetic fields from a substation next to the team's Santa Clara training facility could have contributed to the injuries. The 49ers actually hired an independent scientist to investigate. The conclusion? Nothing to see here.

General manager John Lynch said the investigation found the team was operating in a safe environment, with electromagnetic-field levels reportedly 400 times below unsafe levels. San Francisco spent $9 million improving rehabilitation and recovery facilities. It also added three physical therapists after players gave the team's training room a C-minus grade in the NFLPA report cards.

Unfortunately for the 49ers, the injury problems did not magically disappear. San Francisco enters Week 1 with major defensive line questions. Sam Okuayinonu is on injured reserve with a foot injury, while second-year defensive tackle Alfred Collins suffered a torn patellar tendon in practice and will miss the season. Mykel Williams remains on the reserve/PUP list, leaving the 49ers to rely heavily on an inexperienced group.

There is some good news. Nick Bosa and George Kittle are cleared to play against the Rams, although Kittle is expected to be monitored carefully as he returns from an Achilles injury. And then there is Brandon Aiyuk, whose saga somehow remains unresolved.

Aiyuk is still technically under contract with the 49ers, but he has been on the reserve/left squad list and has not participated with the team. Lynch said in late August that "nothing has changed" with Aiyuk's situation, while Aiyuk has indicated that he has no intention of returning to the organization.