A recent theory has emerged linking the proximity of the 49ers’ practice facility to an electrical substation. And while there’s apparently nothing to it, the 49ers won’t shrug it off.
“What I would tell you, because it deals with allegedly the health and safety of our players, I think you have to look into everything,” G.M. John Lynch told reporters on Wednesday. “So, our guys have been — we’ve been reaching out to anyone and everyone to see does a study exist other than a guy sticking an apparatus underneath the fence and by coming up with a number that I have no idea what that means. That’s what we know exists. We’ve heard that debunked. So yes, we will look into it. We have. The health and safety of our players is of the utmost priority. We pour into it. Our ownership, [CEO] Jed [York], tremendous in terms of resources and we’ll always be cognizant of things. I know that a lot of games have been won at this facility since it opened. We aren’t going to turn a blind eye. We’ll look into everything.”
The 49ers have practiced in the same facility since 1988, winning three Super Bowls in the first seven years there. And even if there’s nothing to the electricity angle, the 49ers have had too many injuries in recent years.
“The health and performance of our players is at the utmost priority each and every year,” Lynch said. “You know, this year it was tough and it took a toll on our team. We’ll continue to look. Now, having said that, we’ve spent a lot of time and effort in recruiting really quality people and I think being at the forefront of injury prevention. I think this year probably because the star players that that went down there was a lot of attention given on that. The fact of the matter is injuries are a part of this game. And so, what we strive to do is never to eliminate injuries, but to mitigate injuries, and I think we have a lot of good processes. We’ll challenge them all. That process has begun. It never frankly stopped, but yes, we’ll look at everything and we’ll examine everything.”
A certain amount of injuries are unavoidable. Still, training and nutrition and flexibility can be factors in the ability of players to stay healthy. Whatever the reason for two straight years of too many injuries for the 49ers, they need to get to the bottom of the problem, and fix it.
49ers Clips
On Saturday night, the Seahawks blew out the 49ers, 41-6. And the numbers reflected the fact that it was a far from compelling game.
Via Fox, 32 million tuned in for the division-round contest.
It’s a big number, but it was significantly lower than Fox’s 49ers-Eagles game from six days earlier, at 41 million. The Bills-Jaguars wild-card game on the prior Sunday afternoon attracted 32.7 million viewers.
Last year, the Commanders-Lions Saturday night game in the divisional round averaged 33.6 million. The 49ers-Seahawks game represents a 4.7-percent drop.
Still to come are the Sunday games: Texans-Patriots and Rams-Bears.
49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has not played a game since Oct. 20, 2024. That’s when he tore his ACL and MCL.
That proved the final game of his 49ers’ career.
49ers General Manager John Lynch confirmed Wednesday that the team will move on from Aiyuk this offseason.
“The plan, in terms of the transaction, that will come in due time,” Lynch said, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. “I think it’s safe to say that he’s played his last snap with the Niners. It’s unfortunate, a situation that just went awry. And I will look long and hard at what could have been done differently, but sometimes just doesn’t work out. I think that this was a case where that happened.”
Aiyuk had a hold-in during training camp in 2024 before signing a four-year, $120 million extension before the start of the season. He appeared in seven games before his injury.
That was the end of his career in San Francisco. The 49ers voided the guaranteed money in Aiyuk’s contract last summer after he failed to participate in rehab sessions and meetings and eventually placed him on the reserve/left squad list.
Lynch said he has no answer for Aiyuk separating himself from the team, saying, “I wish I knew.”
“There’s not much of an explanation because it’s really hard for us, and anyone else, to understand,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “That’s why it’s something I’ve never seen in 22 years of coaching. So, it’s unfortunate. It’s confusing because it’s confusing for all of us.
“But it eventually becomes it is what it is. And you try as hard as you can to fix something that you don’t understand, but it’s not like we understand it very well, still. But eventually you understand that it’s not going to change, and you’ve got to move on with your football team, which is always the most important thing.”
The 49ers need a new defensive coordinator with Robert Saleh moving on to become the Titans’ head coach and they may not be bringing someone in from outside the organization.
Assistant head coach Gus Bradley was the Colts’ defensive coordinator before joining Kyle Shanahan’s staff in 2025 and he’s held the same role for several other clubs as well. That’s led to speculation that he will take over Saleh’s spot and Shanahan was asked about that prospect during a Wednesday press conference.
“I’m going to say it’s a real wide net but Gus is the obvious one to everyone and is to us too,” Shanahan said. “Gus would be the main internal candidate. We feel fortunate to get Gus and great about that. We are going to go through the whole process. There’s requirements we have to do and stuff that we want to do, also. So, hopefully, we can get it settled sooner than later.”
The obvious choice often winds up being the final one, so it won’t come as a shock if the 49ers’ search ends with Bradley running the defense.
The 49ers turned to Mac Jones at quarterback when Brock Purdy was dealing with a toe injury during the regular season and Jones played well enough to spark discussion about whether he’d take on a starting role for another team in 2026.
Jones is under contract for 2026, so moving on would have to come via a trade or release. The 49ers are unlikely to release Jones and the prospect of a trade came up during a press conference with General Manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday.
“You always listen to people with trade offers. We’re also not into getting rid of good players, so I’d be very surprised if Mac wasn’t around us next year,” Shanahan said.
The 49ers went 5-3 in games started by Jones, which illustrates the value of a good backup quarterback and why the 49ers would want to hold onto him for next season. It also illustrates why teams without a clear direction for their starting job might still be calling the 49ers to see if they can make an offer that leads to a change of heart about a Jones trade.
With a president of football and head coach in place, the Falcons are moving on to General Manager interviews.
According to multiple reports, Atlanta has put in requests to interview Bears assistant G.M. Ian Cunningham, Texans assistant G.M. James Liipfert, and 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams.
The Falcons previously interviewed Cunningham for the club’s president of football role, that ultimately went the franchise’s former quarterback, Matt Ryan.
Notably, Ryan is reportedly the primary football decision-maker, which means that teams may block interview requests for G.M.
That could be an impediment as Atlanta’s search continues for a new General Manager.
The Falcons have also put in a request to interview Steelers assistant General Manager Andy Weidl for the role.
The man who coached the franchise that was originally named the Titans is on track to coach the team currently named the Titans.
Via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and the Tennessee Titans are finalizing a deal that will make him the team’s new head coach.
Saleh previously coached the Jets (f/k/a Titans) from 2021 into the 2024 season. He worked as a consultant with the Packers after he was fired by Jets owner Woody Johnson. For 2025, he returned to the 49ers, where he worked from 2017 to 2020 as defensive coordinator.
He had a record of 20-36 in New York.
The move comes at a time when some believed Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy would be hired by the Titans. And perhaps Nagy will still end up there, as the offensive coordinator. (The Chiefs reportedly will be bringing back Eric Bieniemy.)
In Nashville, Saleh gets a young potential franchise quarterback in Cam Ward, along with significant cap space and a new stadium that is due to open in 2027.
Saleh also will face the Jaguars and coach Liam Coen twice per year. Which will spice up a rivalry that has been among the most dull in the entire league.
The Titans have completed in-person interviews with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, the team announced Monday.
Nagy previously interviewed virtually with team officials.
It was Saleh’s first interview with the Titans. Saleh was initially scheduled for a virtual interview on Sunday, but the 49ers’ loss to the Seahawks on Saturday allowed him to interview in person.
The Titans interviewed 15 candidates during the first two weeks of their coaching search.
Nagy has spent the past nine seasons with the Chiefs. He was promoted to offensive coordinator after rejoining Kansas City in 2022 as senior offensive assistant/quarterbacks coach.
Nagy previously spent four years as head coach for the Bears (2018-21).
Saleh has spent 21 seasons in the NFL and is in his second stint as defensive coordinator with the 49ers. Before returning to San Francisco, Saleh spent three-plus seasons (2021-24) as head coach of the Jets, where he was 20-36.
His first stint as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator was from 2017-20.
49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is currently in Nashville for an in-person interview with the Titans. He is scheduled to head to Arizona next.
NFL Media reports Saleh has a second interview with the Cardinals on Tuesday.
Saleh is in his second stint as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, rejoining the staff before the 2025 season. He previously served in that role from 2017-20 before becoming the Jets’ head coach.
Saleh has also spent time with the Jaguars, Seahawks and Texans.
Other candidates for the Cardinals are Patriots passing game coordinator Thomas Brown, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
49ers tight end George Kittle says he’s doing great after surgery to repair his torn Achilles tendon.
Kittle suffered the injury eight days ago in Philadelphia, and today he was back in San Francisco, talking to reporters in the 49ers’ locker room and saying that his surgery was better than expected.
“I’m fantastic,” Kittle said. :The surgery went really really good. Surgeon was happy with it. He said best-case scenario when you tear your Achilles is that you tear it up high, by your soleus, which is what I did. It was a clean tear. They didn’t have to drill into my heel. Where the repair was, is where there’s more blood flow, which takes some time off the recovery. He’s very excited about everything, my recovery, when I’ll be ready to play again. That puts me in a really good mood. It’s not as bad as it might have been. I’m excited about that.”
It’s too soon to say whether Kittle will be on the field for Week One of the 2026 season, but Kittle sounds confident that he’ll be back and ready to play at a high level again.
