‘What we live for’ – San Francisco 49ers embracing injury nightmare to thrive in playoff cauldron

Forklift trucks whizz around the lower concourse, the continuous clatter of machinery and the hurried scurrying of construction staff indicate preparations for Super Bowl LX. are underway

It is now just three weeks until ‘The Big Game‘ takes center stage in the Bay Area and Levi’s Stadium is buzzing.

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Amongst all the noise and commotion, you would think the team that calls this their home would find themselves in a similar state of frenzy. 

The San Francisco 49ers’ season has been soaked in adversity, they’ve had challenges thrown their way that many teams would have buckled under.

They have fought through the storm and with it, a sense of calm and acceptance has followed and the team stands on the precipice of doing something remarkable.

A 12 win regular season, followed on Sunday by a backs against the wall take down of the reigning Super Bowl champions the Philadelphia Eagles, leaves the 49ers just two games away from a home date in the sport’s biggest spectacle.

The task doesn’t get any easier as the post-season journey continues on Saturday with a road trip to divisional rival and NFC number 1 seed Seattle Seahawks.

The 49ers currently have the lowest Super Bowl winner odds of any of the remaining eight playoff teams.

“I’ve never taken a spread seriously,” was head coach Kyle Shanahan’s deadpan response in his press conference.

If one team can continue to defy the odds, it’s the 49ers’ whose 2025 story started in Seattle in Week 1 – but this has been no fairytale, more of a nightmare.

Franchise quarterback Brock Purdy would suffer a toe injury in the season opener that would result in the 49ers relying upon his back-up Mac Jones for the next eight games.

A tough start which would put any team on the back foot.

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Fast forward to Week 3, when star defensive end Nick Bosa went down with a torn ACL ending his season.

In Week 6, the heart of the team was ripped out in Tampa as linebacker Fred Warner suffered a dislocated and fractured ankle while three weeks later first round pick Mykal Williams tore his ACL ending a promising rookie campaign.

Star tight end George Kittle missed six games in the regular season, number one wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has missed half of the campaign all All-Pro left tackle Trent Williamsmissed the final two games.

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Add into the mix, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s baffling refusal to return to the team banished to the reserve/left squad list and you’ve got quite the laundry list of issues. 

All of this drama, noise and misfortune could have seen San Francisco spiral out of control, another season of promise going up in smoke ultimately no blame would be thrown at Shanahan’s door.

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Rising to the challenge

How could it be any other way? When your luck’s out, what can you do?

But this team showed that when the chips are down, the culture built over the past nine years by Shanahan and general manager John Lynch would ring true.

“Culture is always about the people, not just words,” said defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, between head coach interviews this week.

Adversity is another buzz word repeated through this week

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Kendrick Bourne told us ‘it builds growth’, defensive end Sam Okuayinonu referred to the team’s motto this year being ‘grit’ while Warner said the resilience of the team ‘speaks to who we are and standard that’s been built’.

Despite the injuries and an end of season schedule that featured three games in 13 days, the wheels have kept turning, there’s been little dropoff.

Apart from a sobering Week 18 defeat to the Seahawks with the NFC’s number 1 seed up for grabs.

A grizzly 13-3 defeat meant a play-off road trip to Philadelphia was incoming as I sat on the 49ers team bus into Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, I witnessed first hand the Eagles fans ‘famous hospitality.’

One man cycled in alongside the bus through downtown screaming words that are best left to the imagination – I did wonder if the fuel to San Francisco’s fire was burning out.

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That was multiplied when the Niners injury bug showed up once more and superstar Kittle went down with a torn Achilles in the second quarter.

Not so, another challenge risen to, another obstacle overcome.

Another beating heart of the team was gone, but this team has become accustomed to struggle, they never wavered and that never say die attitude shone through once more in a stunning 23-19 Wild Card weekend comeback win.

All action McCaffrey leading the way

Christian McCaffrey was named First Team All-Pro as an ‘all purpose’ player for this season, his real purpose has been shouldering a huge responsibility for keeping this team’s dreams alive.

Despite the offensive heroics from McCaffrey and the returning Purdy, the sheer number of injuries has given rise to a new set of cult heroes.

Eric Kendricks, 33-years-old and waiting for the right team.

Up early in the gym at 6am, he was back in time for pancakes and eggs the kids, before he was back to working out and in November he signed for the 49ers.

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Alongside him on Sunday stood Garrett Wallow, signed off the Denver practice squad in early December he started his first game since 2022.

After one meeting, and one practise, Shanahan said he “could tell right away he was an NFL player”.

The pair combined for 21 tackles, with Kendricks pass break up on 4th and 11 sealing the victory in Philly.

The 49ers now prepare for a divisional round showdown in Seattle as they look to enact revenge after missing out just two weeks ago.

They will enter Lumen Field as underdogs and a label they’ve come to embrace as Purdy told me: “We stayed alive, we’re alive right now so you can call us underdogs but for us, we just focus on ourselves”.

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Within the building, there’s an growing sense of belief, there’s excitement in the air and Warner – remarkably has had his practice window opened this week.

Defensive tackle Kalia Davis described “feeling an aura” in the locker room.

They’re aware of the growing social media noise coming from the state of up the Pacific coach

“This is what we live for,” said Bourne with a smirk after a briefing from receivers coach Leonard Hankerson on Tuesday.

As the Super Bowl hosting preparations continue, the noise currently engulfs the San Francisco 49ers literally and figuratively at Levi’s Stadium.

The question remains, are they able to cut through it and silence the remaining doubters? 

“If you can’t get your mind right to play play-off football you’re in the wrong sport,” was Kendricks rallying cry.

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