Although there are three games left in the 2025 NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers have officially entered the offseason after losing 41-6 to the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round.
San Francisco’s season wasn’t too disappointing as they overcame offseason coaching and roster changes, as well as injuries to several key players throughout the year.
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Winning 12 games, beating the defending Super Bowl champions and reaching the divisional round of the playoffs are all great accomplishments, but Kyle Shanahan and company. Aim higher.
In an interview with KNBR’s Adam Copeland and Derek Papa, former 49ers quarterback Steve Young detailed what the team needs to do to improve the offense in 2026, and that starts with the big men up front.
“Well, every quarterback needs an offensive line, and they have to be in the top 10,” Young said. “I mean, with Trent [Williams] Are they in the top ten in the competition? I would say it comes and goes. They’ve had some great games this year, but we need to get back to the offensive line that we had in 2019, we were the best in the league, top three. Back then, you know, Jimmy Garoppolo was in the Super Bowl when he couldn’t have a job today, right? You need offensive linemen, and that’s why it’s important to make sure that there’s always…any quarterback that doesn’t back him up…for years, you know, I complained about Andrew Luck just trying to play Hall of Fame ball behind an offensive line that couldn’t protect him. You need that.
“And Trent, at 38 years old, it’s not fair to say he’s going to be the cornerstone of our offensive line. So I think we have the makings of a great offensive line. Let’s make sure we continue [build it]…for me it’s number one [priority]”.
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San Francisco has some decisions to make on the offensive line this year, with starting left guard Ben Batch and backup left guard Spencer Burford both free agents this offseason, while Williams and starting center Jake Brundle are both entering the final years of their contracts.
The 49ers need to make some moves to address the short- and long-term needs in front of Purdy and the running backs.
Speaking of the back, Young also pointed to the need to upgrade the weapons around Purdy.
“I mean, if quarterback is the priority position in the NFL, then the offensive line needs to be second. And then you need speed,” Young said. “We don’t need speed like other teams because we run a lot of plays. But it can’t be a Christian McCaffrey show. We know that. It’s asking too much of Christian. It’s too much for Christian. I think it affects Christian’s running game. I think we can’t adequately gauge Christian’s ability as a runner when Christian has to do six other things.
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“So we have to make sure when they warm up that we’re a threat outside the locker room and the defense has been talking about that since last Wednesday. It’s like, oh, watch out. [him] Oh, crap. He’s bigger than I thought. Oh man, he’s faster than me [thought]. You know what I mean? I mean, that’s what the 49ers were like over the years, you know, during the dynasty, the ’80s, ’90s, we were up 10-0 before we even warmed up because they’d been talking about us for five days. You know, here comes Jerry Rice, here comes Jerry Rice. “Oh, damn, he looks faster than I thought. Oh, John Taylor. Bunker. These guys come out of nowhere.
“That’s what we’re going through as we warm up in 2023, right? We come out of the tunnel in 2023. It’s like everybody’s going to be like, ‘Oh, crap.'” We have to get back to that.
In 2023, the 49ers get off the bench and McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle and Ja’an Jennings become their top weapons. This year’s roster lacks the talent needed to truly take the offense to the next level.
Whether in trade, free agency or the draft, San Francisco should work to acquire better players to get the most out of Purdy and McCaffrey.
More 49ers: 49ers expected to select Trent Williams’ replacement in 2026 mock draft
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Steve Young explains how 49ers can improve offense in 2026
