The San Francisco 49ers emerged from the most competitive division in the NFL and finished atop the NFC in the regular season. And they didn’t disappoint with their favorable seeding. San Francisco is headed to Miami for Super Bowl LIV after pummeling the Green Bay Packers in the NFC championship game.
There’s no doubt the organization is deserving of a Super Bowl appearance — the first since Colin Kaepernick led San Francisco to the title game after the 2012 season. The 49ers finished 4-12 in 2018, but made calculated decisions to turn around the organization in short time — with some of those decisions amounting to deciding NOT to make rash decisions and rush into changes. The 49ers showed patience, and were rewarded.
Here’s a look at the team’s shrewdest moves that put them a win away from kissing the Lombardi Trophy.
1. Deciding to hire Kyle Shanahan despite his gaffes in Super Bowl LI and deciding to stick with him despite a rough start to his 49ers career
When Shanahan joined the 49ers, he was fresh off some of the most controversial play-calling in Super Bowl history. His decision to throw the ball on three consecutive plays during the Falcon’s penultimate offensive drive in Super Bowl LI led, in large part, to the team’s collapse. The three passing plays put them out of range of a field goal while stopping the clock to aid a Patriots’ comeback in the final moments of the fourth quarter.
The 49ers had already hired Shanahan. But there was plenty of reason for cold feet in San Francisco. Still, the 49ers accepted him with open arms.
And then they kept their loving embrace around the young coach after he finished 6-10 in his first season and dropped to 4-12 in his second. San Francisco didn’t waiver — at least not outwardly — in its support of the coach. Many organizations have fired their coaches, especially young ones, for less. The 49ers gave Shanahan time to adjust an learn on the job; three years later, that clearly looks like the right move.
2. Hitting on most of their recent first-round draft picks
The draft is such a crucial space for building a championship roster, especially in recent years with the rookie wage scale capping the earning power of the league’s young talent.
We hear all the time about how teams benefit having quarterbacks on a smaller rookie deal. But it’s also important — if you’re paying big money for a QB — to find ways to save on the most important positions along the offensive and defensive lines? That sure seems like the approach the 49ers have taken with first-round picks in recent years:
- 2019: DE Nick Bosa
- 2018: OT Mike McGlinchey
- 2017: DE Solomon Thomas
- 2016: DE Deforest Buckner
- 2015: DT Arik Armstead
- 2014: DB Jimmie Ward
McGlinchey has been an extremely impressive starter at right tackle, with crucial contributions to the outside run game. Ward is among the most underrated members of the San Francisco defense. Armstead (10 sacks), Bosa (9) and Buckner (7.5) helped the 49ers record 48 sacks during the regular season. Thomas is the lone disappointment, as he has taken a reserve role in the defense.
3. Electing not to cut Raheem Mostert
His story is a terrific one. And one thing he’ll remind media members — and NFL teams — is that six franchises decided they didn’t want him. The 49ers almost made the same mistake. Mostert was a journeyman, who was having a tough time convincing Shanahan that he deserved carries after joining the team in 2016. The 49ers kept looking elsewhere for running back talent: In 2018, they signed Jerrick McKinnon for four years and $30 million. They offered a different back big money in 2019, with Tevin Coleman inking a two-year, $10-million deal. That was after Mostert rushed for 7.7 yards per carry in 2018.
McKinnon hasn’t played for the 49ers due to knee injuries, and Coleman has been slowed by ankle and shoulder injuries this season.
Mostert carried 29 times for 220 yards and four touchdowns in the NFC championship. With the 49ers’ offensive line, you get the sense anyone could put up video-game numbers with the right number of carries. Still, Mostert has been terrific for the last two seasons. It’s a good thing they’ve stuck with him. Perhaps he’ll earn a bigger share of touches in 2020.
4. Having Jimmy Garoppolo throw the ball just 27 times in the playoffs
Through two playoff games, Garoppolo has thrown the ball 27 times while the 49ers have 89 carries. Garoppolo’s 17 completions have gone for 208 yards, one touchdown and an interception. 17 completions in two games! The 89 carries, meanwhile, have produced 471 yards and six touchdowns.
The NFL has adjusted its rules to favor passing offenses. That’s how a mediocre quarterback like Derek Carr finishes his 2019 season with a 70.4 completion percentage (even though he got benched along the way). Defenses are doing their best to compensate with extra defensive backs on the field and lighter linebackers and defensive linemen. That has given new life to the running game. The Patriots, for example, made their playoff run to a Super Bowl LIII win on the legs of Sony Michel and the offensive line.
The 49ers offense is different, like New England’s unit was last year. And that’s working for them.
5. Taking Bill Belichick’s Garoppolo trade with no questions asked.
Yes, Garopppolo has taken a back seat so far in the playoffs but he’s still important to the 49ers. He’s 19-5 when starting for the 49ers over the last three seasons. The idea of “quarterback wins” can usually be easily dismissed — and yet the 49ers are 4-20 without him over the last three seasons. He’s a difference-maker. It couldn’t be more clear. Garoppolo has yet to show he can elevate the offense but he’s clearly been integral to making it work since arriving; he led the 49ers to five consecutive wins after the team started 1-10 in 2017.
It’s wild to think they got him for just a second-round pick.
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