SANTA CLARA — For the first time since the 2020 NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers are heading into their final two games of the year already eliminated from playoff contention. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for a team that has been a perennial contender in recent years, and the atmosphere around the team reflects the sting of unmet expectations.
Outside the team’s facility, the murmurs begin—whispers about star players potentially protecting themselves from injury by opting out of the remaining games. But inside the 49ers’ locker room, there’s no sign of any letup. There’s no hint of apathy or lack of effort, especially not from head coach Kyle Shanahan, who remains resolute in his leadership.
“Got to tell them welcome to the reality of the world,” Shanahan said, responding to questions about how he is guiding his team through the final stretch. “I think that’s a credit to some of the situations we’ve been in here the last few years. But that’s not the only reason you play. This is your job, you’re putting on a 49er uniform.”
Shanahan’s message to his team has been clear from the moment their playoff hopes were dashed—just prior to the kickoff of their Week 16 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The writing had been on the wall after their crushing defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 15, but Shanahan has kept the focus on finishing strong. Despite the disappointment, he knows there’s still work to be done.
Veterans like defensive stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are steadfast in their commitment to the team. Despite knowing their postseason dreams have evaporated, the mentality in the locker room remains as locked-in as ever.
“I think it’s good,” Bosa said, reflecting on the current state of the team. “It’s obviously not where you want to be at this time of year. It’s different. Especially watching where we were at last year against this team. Just that feeling of December, January football is something I’ve gotten used to.”
For Bosa, the absence of playoff contention is jarring, but he remains determined. “Being really competitive and being in the mix is something I’m used to,” he added. “But I think we’re doing a good job of staying engaged, and obviously this is our job, so we’re going to finish it strong.”
Warner, who has been playing through a fractured ankle since Week 4, could easily be excused from the final two games given his injury. But when you speak to the All-Pro linebacker, it’s clear that the thought of sitting out has never crossed his mind—and it never will.
“I could never,” Warner said emphatically. “I’m for sure going to be playing. I think there’s an integrity to the game, an integrity to your team that if you are able and willing, you have to be out there with that 49ers red on you, out on that field regardless of the situation.”
The 49ers are battered, with 15 players currently on injured reserve, two more set to be added, and one player on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. It’s a far different roster than the one that took the field in Week 1, but neither Warner nor Bosa are using the team’s injuries as an excuse for a lack of effort. They’re determined to give everything they’ve got in these final two games, just as if their playoff hopes were still alive.
“All of us get into this because we want to make that tournament, and have a chance to get to a Super Bowl,” Shanahan said. “A lot of our guys haven’t been in that situation before, so they’re not used to it, but teams all over the league are in this situation.”
Shanahan’s words reflect a broader truth about the NFL—every team, no matter how talented, will face adversity at some point. The key is how you respond to it. “You’ve still got to go out there and perform the same way because once you start thinking there’s no reason to go out there and play your best, that’s when you’re usually closer to the end than the beginning.”
As the 49ers prepare to finish their season, there’s a strong sense of pride in the locker room. The road to the playoffs may be over, but the commitment to excellence has never wavered. Bosa, Warner, and the rest of the team are ready to finish the season on their terms—playing hard and giving it their all, no matter the stakes.
