Kyle Shanahan expects 49ers rookies to 'play at a high level'

The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for their week one matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Unlike recent seasons in which the team was deep at most positions and rich with veteran leadership, the 2025 49ers have more young players that they will be counting on to help them win a division game in Seattle on Sunday. San Francisco still has a core of veteran leaders, but there's a different feel around the team this year. And that's not a bad thing.

Matt Maiocco, of NBC Sports Bay Area, sat down with 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan this week on 49ers Game Plan. They discussed this rookie class and how things feel a little different because of the influx of younger players.

"Yeah, it's different just because the nucleus of our team for these last since 2019," Shanahan said. "2019, we were playing rookies, [Dre] Greenlaw was a rookie, Fred [Warner] was a second-year player, Deebo [Samuel] was a rookie. So we did a lot of that then. But we ran with that team for a while. We always had turnover each year, but the basis of our team hadn't changed for a while, and now it's been six years since then, and it is a little different now just because there are more young guys, and the number of vets did leave, but we still have a number of vets here. But throwing those guys in the mix has been different. But it's been fun too. We've enjoyed it."

Asked if he expects Seahawks Offensive Coordinator, Klint Kubiak, to go over after the rookies on Sunday, Shanahan suggested you always want to do that, but that you can't always attack rookies. The coverage has to be right, the situation has to be right. But Shanahan knows it will happen at times throughout the game, and he expects his rookies to be ready.

Maiocco referenced that the 49ers' first five draft picks were all on the defensive side, with three of them being defensive linemen—Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, and C.J. West. Asked what he expects from the three rookie defensive linemen, Shanahan didn't hold back on his belief in the team's rookie defenders.

"We expect them to play good football," Shanahan said. "I think it's been a challenge, you know, for Mykel and CJ here, just not being able to go these last few weeks with their injuries in camp. Alfred has been able to stay healthy and got a really good training camp. But these guys have been ready this last week. They've had a good week of practice, and I expect them to come out there and play at a high level. And regardless of what happens, good or bad, I expect them to get better as the season goes, and we'll work with them nonstop. But I'm excited to see them play."

Williams, Collins, and West all figure to get plenty of snaps on Sunday. The 49ers coaching staff expects fellow defensive rookies Nick Martin and Upton Stout to play a lot, as well. And rookie safety Marques Sigle could also get time with the defense.

Regardless, there will be growing pains. Young players, especially rookies, tend to make mistakes. But as Shanahan said, the plan is for them to continue to get better. And that all starts on Sunday afternoon in Seattle.

Watch the full interview below: