San Francisco 49ers 2025 Season Preview: Star Players, Key Matchups & Where to Watch

San Francisco 49ers 2025 Season Preview: Star Players, Key Matchups & Where to Watch

The San Francisco 49ers enter the 2025 season looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw them finish last in the NFC West. Injuries and inconsistent play plagued the team, resulting in a 6-11 record and seven losses in their final eight games.

Despite the downturn, the core of a strong team remains. Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle continue to lead the offense, with Brock Purdy under center. On defense, the unit looks noticeably different due to personnel changes following Purdy’s contract extension, but stars like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner still anchor the group.

There are questions about how the defense will hold up, but the offense has enough firepower to keep San Francisco in the playoff mix. With Kyle Shanahan still at the helm, 49ers fans have reason to believe this team can get back on track in 2025.

đŸ“ș Top 5 Must-Watch Rams Games in 2025

🏈Week 1 (Sept 7) - @ Seattle Seahawks

Fox, 4:05 PM ET

The 49ers open the season against division rival Seattle, offering an early look at how they've bounced back and how they stack up in the NFC West race.

🏈Week 5 (Oct 2) - @ Los Angeles Rams

Prime Video, 8:15 PM ET

In Week 5, the 49ers visit the Rams in a key divisional clash with playoff implications. By then, we should have a clearer sense of how competitive San Francisco really is.

🏈Week 6 (Oct 12) - @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

CBS, 1 PM ET

This game should provide a good test for the 49ers as they face a solid playoff level-team in the Buccaneers. This game could have an impact on playoff seeding down the line, so this is one the 49ers should be winning if they are aiming to get good playoff positioning. 

🏈Week 8 (Oct 26) - @ Houston Texans

Fox, 1 PM ET

This brings the 49ers’ toughest AFC test as they face the resurgent Texans, led by C.J. Stroud. With former 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans now coaching Houston, this one should be especially intriguing.

🏈Week 17 (Dec 28) - vs Chicago Bears

NBC, 8:20 PM ET

This game could end up being one of the toughest on the 49ers' schedule, depending on how Ben Johnson settles into his new role as head coach. It's offensive genius versus offensive genius, and the fans are the ones who benefit most.


🌙 Niners in Prime Time: When to Tune In

  • Thursday Night (TNF) Games
    • Week 5 @ Los Angeles
  • Sunday Night (SNF) Games
    • Week 7 vs. Atlanta
    • Week 17 vs. Chicago
  • Monday Night (MNF) Games
    • Week 12 vs. Carolina
    • Week 16 @ Indianapolis

The 49ers remain a national draw and as a result they have 5 primetime games spread across the Thursday, Sunday, and Monday slots. 


⭐ 2025 Star Players to Watch

Brock Purdy - A polarizing quarterback, but one who certainly runs the Shanahan system incredibly well.

Christian McCaffrey - One of the most dangerous and versatile running backs this sport has ever seen.

George Kittle - He can block, he can catch, and you bet he will score a lot this season.

Ricky Pearsall -  The exciting young name to watch, ready for a breakout after his rookie season was significantly disrupted by a gunshot wound. 

đŸ›Ąïž On Defense

Nick Bosa - When on song, Bosa is one of the league’s elite edge rushers. He is a crucial part of this defense.

Fred Warner -  The best linebacker in football, this guy is everywhere on the field, contributing against the run and the pass.


How to Watch the Niners in 2025

Fox will be the primary source to catch the 49ers games but they will also feature in all primetime windows at one point or another, and across other networks on other weeks. 

💡 Pro Tip: For the full game schedule and real-time TV updates, visit our San Francisco 49ers Subpage


🧠 Final Thought: Can San Francisco Challenge for the Division

The 49ers will have question marks going into the 2025 season, particularly on defense, but fans should put their trust in Kyle Shanahan and his staff to find a way to make this team competitive again. Should these guys remain healthy, this is a team that can challenge the best in the league on any given Sunday. 

đŸ“Č Don’t miss a moment —To follow the 49ers throughout the season you’ll want access to our San Francisco 49ers Team Page so you know how to catch every game.


Written by: Venuse, Inc. (Sports Content Creator)

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