San Francisco 49ers Suites

Fans in the Bay Area greeted the 2018 season with a renewed sense of optimism following an inspiring end to the 2017 season. Emerging from the ashes of the disastrous season with Chip Kelly, new life was breathed into the team when former NFL player John Lynch was tabbed to become the new general manager for the team. He was tasked with finding the next Head Coach and chose Kyle Shanahan, an innovative football mind with a pedigree rooted in a familial lineage linked to the history of the game. In fact, Kyle’s father, legendary Super Bowl winning coach Mike Shanahan, was Lynch’s Head Coach in Denver. Kyle Shanahan had most recently worked as the Offensive Coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.

His first season was off to a rocky start, as the 49ers would lose nine out of their first 10 games in 2017. Heading into December, it looked like the team would be unable to make any quantitative progress in Shanahan’s first year. However, it would seem that the progress they were looking for was just one player away. Organizations are always looking for that one spark that can jumpstart the whole team. The 49ers found that spark when they called on Jimmy Garoppolo to start for them at quarterback. Acquired via a blockbuster mid-season trade with the New England Patriots, Garoppolo was on the sidelines for the first few weeks of his tenure with the 49ers, but burst onto the scene with a five game winning streak to finish the season. Salvaging the final record and reinvigorating the fan base, the 49ers decided to heavily invest in their new QB. A huge offseason deal was announced that will keep Garoppolo in the Bay Area through 2023 to the tune of $137.5 million. Looking to protect their investment, the 49ers used their 2018 first round pick (number nine overall) on Mike McGlinchey, a strong offensive tackle out of Notre Dame. McGlinchey would do all he could to make sure that Garoppolo stayed upright and keep his uniform clean.

The high expectations for 2018 were crushed just three weeks in as Garoppolo would leave with a knee injury, later to be confirmed as an ACL tear which would end his season. The team would fall into a tailspin without a solid QB and was quickly relegated to the bottom of the standings.

Late in the season, there was some joy brought to the fan base by Garoppolo’s replacement. The undrafted Nick Mullens was given a start and was able to play quite well. His debut marked the first time in 49ers history that a quarterback threw for three scores in his first game with the team. Mullens heads back to the bench in 2019 as Garoppolo is ready to take the field.

Running back Tevin Coleman, formerly of Atlanta, looks to be the new feature back in San Fran. The receiving corps has solid talent in Dante Pettis and Marquise Goodwin, paired with George Kittle at tight end makes for some decent passing targets. Former Super Bowl MVP Malcolm Smith was added to the defense last year but suffered a season-ending injury prior to the season. He has worked hard to be ready for 2019. Richard Sherman drives opposing quarterbacks crazy as he patrols the outfield and now those teams will also face an upgraded pass rush with Nick Bosa, the 2019 second overall draft pick, lined up as a defensive end.

Accurate veteran kicker Robbie Gould is back to knocking extra points and field goals through the uprights again this year. Still in search of his first Super Bowl, Gould is hoping this group can defy the odds and bring home the Lombardi Trophy.

There is a history of success in the Bay Area from which to draw inspiration. San Francisco has won five Super Bowls in their history. Three were under the Hall of Fame Coach Bill Walsh, and two more under his successor, George Seifert.

Notable players to have laced up in the iconic red, white, and gold uniforms include some of the best the NFL has ever had to offer in Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Steve Young, Ronnie Lott, and Roger Craig. For more about the San Francisco 49ers and their history, click here.