The San Francisco 49ers have struggled to find an identity in the first half of the 2024 season,
Coming off last season’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, the 49ers made significant moves in the offseason to ensure their roster was primed for at least one more run at the Lombardi Trophy before they have to give their starting QB, Brock Purdy, a massive payday next season.
With the current price of a high-caliber starting QB hovering around $60 million a year since Dak Prescott’s deal got completed in the opening week of the season, it’s safe to say John Lynch and company are preparing a stack of cash for Purdy, who has proven to be the team’s franchise QB despite being the very last pick in his draft class
So it’s almost a certainty the San Francisco 49ers will have to make some tough decisions after this season — with staples like Deebo Samuel and other key players as possible casualties to free up salary cap space to pay Purdy.
Still, Lynch and company made every possible move this offseason to set the roster up for success, but injuries have put a major wrench in the 49ers plans so far, and it’s shown.
San Francisco inked star RB Christian McCaffrey to a four-year extension worth $62.2 million, but the versatile offensive weapon has yet to touch the field in 2024.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported earlier this week that “there’s a very good chance” that the 49ers running back is back after the Niners’ bye week after Sunday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, so if that proves to be true, he will play his first game of the year on Nov. 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Beyond McCaffrey, the 49ers brass decided to end a standoff with WR Brandon Aiyuk that lasted the entire offseason. Despite rumors of Aiyuk wanting out of San Francisco and him being linked to multiple trade partners, the San Francisco 49ers inked him to a four-year $120 million deal in the final week before the start of the season.
Aiyuk earned Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2023. In 16 games (all starts), he tallied 75 receptions for a career-high 1,342 yards (17.9 average) and seven touchdowns. His 1,342 yards ranked seventh in the NFL and marked his second-consecutive 1,000-yard season, making him the first 49ers wide receiver to register back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since Anquan Boldin in the 2013-14 seasons. His 17.9 yards per reception was the second-highest mark in the NFL.
In another case of bad luck, Aiyuk suffered a season-ending injury in last week’s loss to the Chiefs.
Despite the team’s bad luck on the injury front, the 49ers took care of business on Sunday night, knocking off the Dallas Cowboys, 30-24, giving them a (4-4) record at the midway point of the season.
After the nationally televised victory, one 49ers superstar decided to make a bold move that was destined to stir up controversy.
San Francisco 49ers Star Nick Bosa Explains Decision To Endorse Trump On National Television
While it’s not unheard of for NFL players to voice their political opinions, it’s rare, especially with all of the animosity that has been building with the upcoming presidential election.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made headlines for a highly-conservative speech he gave at a college over the summer, and not surprisingly, publicly endorsed Donald Trump a few weeks ago.
Following the win on Sunday night over the Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers star pass rusher Nick Bosa made a point to jump into the background of an interview with Brock Purdy and George Kittle, with the sole purpose appearing to be him pointing at his MAGA hat in support of Trump.
Nick Bosa on his MAGA hat statement: “I’m not gonna talk too much about it, but I think it’s an important time.” pic.twitter.com/NgHx6GJcH6 https://t.co/o9ZGmUse87
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 28, 2024
In his postgame interview, Bosa — who was wearing a different hat at the podium — was asked specifically about his decision to jump into the middle of a nationally televised interview flashing a MAGA hat.
“I’m not going to talk much about it,” the San Francisco 49ers star pass rusher said. “I think it’s an important time.”