Do these 49ers have one final Tremendous Bowl shot? The psychological, bodily and monetary toll looms

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers guard Aaron Banks was minutes into an early coaching camp interview session when he was requested a few expensive mistake by the offensive line late in Super Bowl LVIII.

Pressure lingered within the air for about 5 seconds earlier than Banks mumbled a response.

“Sore topic,” Banks stated.

A number of extra seconds glided by earlier than Banks arrived at a non-answer, selecting to cross on responding and scanning the room for another query.

Right here he was, 169 days after the 49ers’ time beyond regulation loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and it appeared it was nonetheless too quickly to relive the most recent within the Niners’ increasing record of adverse postseason defeats.

Such is the cloud that looms over all issues 49ers as they put together to open the 2024 season Monday in opposition to the New York Jets (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+) and take one other shot at profitable the franchise’s sixth Lombardi Trophy.

Dropping on the largest stage results in considerations a few Tremendous Bowl hangover. The ache of climbing the postseason mountain once more cuts deeper due to the 4 misses up to now 5 seasons.

It is the blown fourth quarter Tremendous Bowl results in the Chiefs in Las Vegas and in Miami after the 2019 season. It is a dropped interception within the NFC Championship Game in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. It is quarterback Brock Purdy‘s devastating right elbow injury early within the 2023 NFC Championship Recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The toll of these disappointments — mentally, bodily and financially — weigh closely on these 49ers.

Mentally, there isn’t any one method to course of the feelings and transfer previous so many shut calls, and the bodily value of repeated deep postseason journeys is each bit as daunting. The additional mileage from 12 postseason video games up to now 5 years has led to adjustments in offseason exercise schedules, surgical procedures to restore lingering accidents and newfangled methods to get well.

Financially, the Niners’ continued dedication to maintain their greatest gamers with big-money contracts means there is a reckoning coming quickly — beginning with Purdy’s anticipated extension — that would make this the ultimate alternative for his or her nucleus to interrupt by means of and win all of it.

Coaching camp supplied some probably ominous indicators the Tremendous Bowl window could possibly be closing. Wideout Brandon Aiyuk and offensive sort out Trent Williams didn’t follow till they got greater contracts, and San Francisco canceled joint practices with the New Orleans Saints as a result of it had too many accidents to get by means of these periods. At their worst, the Niners had 23 gamers not taking part in follow, principally due to damage.

“The entire aim is to get to the season and be able to play soccer,” coach Kyle Shanahan stated. “The offseason although, particularly this yr, how brief it has been, I believe it is a psychological break simply as a lot as something. … We all know what we put into this. We all know how lengthy it goes and never simply together with your physique however the thoughts I believe greater than something.”

All of which makes summoning the vitality to undergo all of it once more — in hopes that this time will probably be completely different — a formidable process for a staff that should thread the needle between preserving itself for the postseason whereas taking part in properly sufficient to get there.

“Simply full honesty, it is brutal,” linebacker Fred Warner stated. “To be able to get to the place you wish to go, this half proper right here that we’re in, it is bought to suck. … It is bought to harm. If it does not, meaning you are not doing it onerous sufficient. You are not doing it proper.”

LESS THAN TWO weeks after they trudged off the sphere into the locker room following the loss to the Chiefs in February, 49ers tight finish George Kittle, operating again Christian McCaffrey, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and their vital others headed to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

For Kittle and Juszczyk, each of whom have been round for the Niners’ earlier Tremendous Bowl loss to the Chiefs, the escape was a part of their understanding that one of the simplest ways to grieve is to be round those that have been by means of the identical factor.

“Typically it is like we’re laughing, we’re laughing, and you then make a fast joke in regards to the Tremendous Bowl and we’re like, f—,” Juszczyk stated. “After which everyone seems to be quiet for a second and you’re feeling these feelings. That is a part of the grieving course of.”

Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was not round for the primary Tremendous Bowl loss to Kansas Metropolis however in his three years within the league, he is been to no less than the NFC Championship Recreation each season and was a outstanding a part of the latest loss.

The fourth-year nook by no means fathomed the potential of dropping to the Chiefs, which solely made it tougher. So onerous, actually, Lenoir says he shut himself out from the world and “do not suppose I even talked to anybody for 2 weeks.”

For others, the one method to transfer to the longer term was to revisit the previous. That was a part of Purdy’s course of, albeit after escaping the frustration for a bit to get married.

After arriving for the offseason program in April, Purdy watched the Tremendous Bowl loss a number of occasions with coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Brian Griese.

Among the many performs Purdy wish to have again was a third-down incompletion for receiver Jauan Jennings within the fourth quarter. A greater learn to an open Aiyuk doubtless would have resulted in a primary down that would have helped the Niners run the clock down and kick a game-winning area aim as time expired.

“These are the form of performs that run by means of my thoughts once I take into consideration the Tremendous Bowl,” Purdy stated.

In fact, at the same time as varied 49ers make peace with the losses, a reminder is rarely distant. For a number of months after the sport, Lenoir felt like he could not go wherever with out seeing a Chiefs hat or T-shirt.

“It simply form of hits you in waves,” Kittle stated. “You get to some extent and it is like this simply sucks. And the farther away you get from it, the much less you concentrate on it.”

THE WEAR AND tear of an NFL season is completely different for each participant nevertheless it’s additionally not unique to them. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw wasn’t the one Niner to tear an Achilles through the Tremendous Bowl. Defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks was standing on the sideline within the third quarter when security Ji’Ayir Brown intercepted Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Within the ensuing celebration, Bullocks was leaping up and down celebrating when he felt an odd twinge in his leg. It wasn’t till after the sport when the adrenaline wore off on the sideline that Bullocks realized one thing was unsuitable.

When he tried to move to the locker room, Bullocks could not stroll. 5 days later, he went into surgical procedure to restore a torn Achilles, the identical operation from the identical surgeon on the identical day that Greenlaw had his repaired.

The time spent rehabbing within the months that adopted allowed Bullocks, who has been on Shanahan’s employees since 2017, the possibility to survey his personal bodily and psychological toll.

“I consider myself after which I consider my gamers,” Bullocks stated. “After which as soon as I provide you with what I must get higher at and what they should get higher at, that is what we will concentrate on shifting ahead … and hopefully that will get us an opportunity to get again to the Tremendous Bowl. Not solely get again to the Tremendous Bowl however win it.”

For that to occur, the Niners might want to keep wholesome. After a number of injury-plagued seasons, they have been one of many healthiest groups within the league in 2023, ending with 34.5 adjusted video games misplaced (which estimates the influence of accidents on groups), the fourth fewest within the NFL. It was the primary time in 10 seasons that the 49ers ranked higher than twentieth within the class.

That kind of luck could possibly be onerous to repeat. No person is aware of that higher than Kittle, who has made a profession of taking part in by means of varied illnesses — like a grade 3 AC joint sprain and a chipped bone in his proper shoulder suffered within the Tremendous Bowl. He additionally had core muscle surgical procedure on March 1 and could not do any kind of vital coaching till April.

At one level, his weight dropped from the 240 kilos he often performs at to nearer to 214, a weight he estimated he hadn’t seen on a scale since 2012, his freshman yr on the College of Iowa.

It took Kittle till simply earlier than coaching camp to get his weight again into the 242-245 vary, however the altered offseason method additionally compelled him to decelerate and take it simpler on his physique.

“That course of was bizarre for me, however trying again on it, I believe it may be actually helpful for me,” Kittle stated. “It is going to avoid wasting put on and tear on my physique.”

Kittle wasn’t the one Niner compelled to change his method to offseason exercises. Defensive finish Nick Bosa usually takes time without work after the season earlier than diving again into exercises.

This yr, nevertheless, Bosa realized the 80 video games and three,708 snaps he is performed since getting into the league in 2019 required a unique offseason routine that builds in additional time to relaxation.

“As I am going on in my profession, I perceive that it’s a must to construct it up on the proper occasions and particularly if you’re taking part in 20-game seasons, simply constructing it up gradual and peaking on the proper time,” Bosa stated.

Niners veterans do not hesitate to share recommendations on learn how to get well and put together their our bodies for one more long term both. Juszczyk and Kittle are religious believers in stem cell remedy. Juszczyk went to Panama twice this offseason for the multi-day remedy periods. Juszczyk can be adamant about starting the day with a plunge within the chilly tub, often set to 38 levels, in addition to each day crimson gentle remedy and loads of time spent within the sauna.

Even McCaffrey has tweaked his offseason schedule.

“If you are going to play onerous and practice onerous, it’s essential get well simply as onerous,” McCaffrey stated. “Our guys have the precise mindset and if it means resting a little bit bit after the season, then that is what it takes then so be it. It is good having loads of veterans who’re mature guys who know learn how to do it, who’ve been by means of it as a result of we all know what it takes to get our personal particular person thoughts, physique and soul able to play.”

THE NINERS ARE going through the very actual risk this would be the ultimate probability for this group of gamers to win a Tremendous Bowl collectively.

The offseason revealed cracks in San Francisco’s wage cap outlook. The Niners are paying Bosa (first in annual common worth amongst defensive ends), McCaffrey (first), Warner (first), Kittle (third), Juszczyk (first), wideouts Aiyuk (tied for fifth) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (14th), Williams (third) and defensive sort out Javon Hargrave (tied for twelfth) at or close to the highest of their place teams.

With McCaffrey and Jennings signing offseason extensions, Purdy set for a payday subsequent offseason and the prolonged means of Aiyuk and Williams’ contract negotiations, no summer time subject has permeated Niners-land greater than how they’ll divvy up their sources in 2024 and past.

The 49ers are unlikely to have the ability to preserve all of their stars given Purdy might obtain the largest elevate in NFL historical past. Cornerbacks Charvarius Ward and Lenoir, security Talanoa Hufanga, Greenlaw and Banks are among the many 24 Niners scheduled for unrestricted free company.

“We’re attempting to have success proper now, initially, however at all times take into accout of (trying) out into the longer term,” basic supervisor John Lynch stated. “That is what we’ll proceed to do. That is our cost, that is who we’re as a company. We will push annually to compete for championships and achieve this, I believe, in a accountable means, and that is what we attempt to do.”

These Niners are once more thought of reputable contenders however — along with the psychological and bodily anguish — there are extra challenges lurking.

ESPN Analytics provides the 49ers one of the best probability to win Super Bowl LIX (13.2% per the Soccer Energy Index) however solely three groups have received the Tremendous Bowl the yr after dropping it, the latest coming in Tremendous Bowl LI when the New England Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons.

On high of that, the 49ers are going to be one of many most-traveled groups, with 24,575 miles (fifth most within the NFL). And, for the second straight yr, the Niners may have the worst relaxation differential within the league with 21 fewer days of relaxation than their opponents. They will face 4 groups coming off their byes, with solely the Indianapolis Colts having greater than two.

To handle the bodily toll, Shanahan expanded the record of gamers getting “veteran days” throughout coaching camp. As many as 9 gamers bought the occasional break day or no less than decreased reps throughout staff drills.

That begs the query: Is the 49ers’ gasoline tank near empty even earlier than the season begins?

Shanahan used an August assembly to remind his staff what it is imagined to appear to be at its greatest.

He confirmed the protection its first 20 performs from final November’s 34-3 win in opposition to Jacksonville. He then confirmed the offense a random assortment of 20 of its greatest performs from final season.

For the veterans, it was a reminder of what the 49ers will be when rested and prepared. For individuals who are new to the staff, it was a blueprint for a way to slot in.

“It was impactful,” Juszczyk stated. “All of us form of bought up and we have been all fired up leaving that assembly.”

Finally, these 49ers know their legacy will probably be decided by what occurs in January and February, even when they cannot enable themselves to start considering these prospects till they’ve traversed the treacherous path again to the postseason — once more.

“You may’t go right into a yr pondering like, rattling, I hope we are able to make that subsequent step,” Warner stated. “The very last thing on our thoughts is simply making it again there. We try to place collectively one of the best staff doable for if and when that second does come, we bought to be one of the best model of ourselves after we get there.”