It felt like this would finally be the year that the San Francisco 49ers got their first Super Bowl Championship in 30 years. Then they had to face off against the Kansas City Chiefs yet again, and once again it was Patrick Mahomes who came away victorious.
The 49ers were among the favorites to win the Super Bowl all season long and those odds only got shorter as the year went on. However, despite being favored in the Super Bowl, one of the best 49ers rosters in recent memory came up short yet again.
Brian Renick of Audacy’s “49ers Webzone: No Huddle Podcast” expressed his frustration with the Niners after another Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs.
“We talked with Jason Aponte in our Super Bowl preview and it was ‘if not now, when?’ And honestly, that’s what I keep leaning into,” Renick said (7:50 in player above). “It wasn’t now so when is it going to be? Because I don’t know that this team makes it back next year. I don’t know that this team ever beats Patrick Mahomes. I don’t know that most teams beat Patrick Mahomes. It’s just so frustrating and so disheartening.”
The 49ers have reached at least the NFC Championship Game in three straight seasons (and four of the last five) with two Super Bowl appearances – both losses – against the Chiefs. Things haven’t worked out for San Francisco in the big game in recent years, and it’s largely been due to the man under center on the other side.
“I just feel like, again, the frustrating part of all of it is that the 49ers have fielded an incredible team and they’ve done so in the era of Patrick Mahomes,” Renick continued. “That’s why they don’t have any Super Bowls right now. It just sucks.”
The 49ers went through a few speed bumps during the regular season but it looked like they were finally healthy and ready to take down the vaunted Chiefs. Unfortunately, the Niners left the door open and Mahomes capitalized.
“This certainly felt like the best 49ers team that we’ve seen since 1994 and the fact that they didn’t win the Super Bowl certainly feels like this was their best shot,” Renick said. “I don’t know that they get back next year and I don’t know that they get back anytime soon based on who they have to pay and who’s getting older and all of that.”
This has been a good run for the 49ers, but the lack of a Super Bowl victory leaves them feeling unfulfilled. It’s only going to get more difficult as San Francisco faces a salary cap crunch this offseason.