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Are 49ers still a Super Bowl contender?
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Are 49ers still a Super Bowl contender?

By Bryan Eglesia  |  Last updated Sep 10, 2026 2:05 PM ET
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The National Football League season is finally here, and there is much optimism and anticipation for every team. While many fans have illusions of grandeur for the upcoming season, only a few will try to make their dream of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy a reality.

The San Francisco 49ers have had many successful seasons during the Kyle Shanahan era as head coach, with multiple double-digit-win seasons and deep playoff runs, including last year when they won 12 games. There are a lot of questions heading into the season, but the main question that looms large is whether their goal of winning a Super Bowl is still realistic.

They are in one of the most difficult divisions in the NFL, the NFC West, with the Los Angeles Rams and the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

Despite winning 12 games last year, the 49ers still finished third in their division, behind the Seahawks and Rams. While multiple impact players missed games due to injury last year, such as Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and George Kittle, their 12 wins do not tell the whole story of their resiliency last season.

Are the 49ers Super Bowl contenders?

When the 49ers open their season against the Rams down under in Melbourne, Australia, they will be facing adversity once again on the injury front, with defensive tackle Alfred Collins out for the season with a patellar tendon injury. 

With the former second-round draft pick defensive tackle losing his season due to injury, the 49ers' depleted defensive line takes another hit. Their depth and ability to rush the passer and stop the run will be tested immediately with their matchup against Matthew Stafford and the high-powered offense of the Rams. It is imperative for the 49ers to be able to rush the quarterback and stop the run on defense to be successful this season.

There has been a lot of speculation about whether the team can stay relatively healthy after suffering multiple injuries to key players last season. People who cover the league are doubting their ability to stay healthy and be competitive, like Sports Illustrated's Jason La Canfora. 

Whether it’s the owner being arrested for being involved in a prostitution scandal, the head coach involved in a car crash, a former All-Pro receiver slandering the team on social media or talks surrounding an electrical substation next to the stadium being a root cause of the team's previous injury history, the organization has been center stage this offseason for all the wrong reasons. 

Despite leading the league in offseason stories and headlines, when it comes to the actual football on the field, the team appears to be in much better shape beyond popular belief. 

With all the star power and well-known players on both sides of the ball, like Christian McCaffrey, Fred Warner, Trent Williams, Nick Bosa, George Kittle, Brock Purdy and new addition Mike Evans all healthy, along with intriguing young players like wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling, defensive end Romello Height and linebacker Jaden Dugger, the 49ers' goal of competing for a Super Bowl like in previous years should remain unchanged.

It will be difficult, and they will face adversity, but there is no doubt that if the 49ers stay relatively healthy, they should be able to compete with any team in any environment. 

Bryan Eglesia

Bryan Egleisa is a content producer located in the Bay Area, California. As a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, he holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He focuses on the Golden State Warriors & the NBA

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