San Francisco 49ers: 2024 Roster, Players, Schedule, Super Bowl Wins and More

The San Francisco 49ers, based in the Bay Area, are a well-known and one of the oldest teams in the NFL. They lie in the National Football Conference West division, and have come a long way since joining professional football in 1946. Initially part of the AAFC, they later merged into the NFL. 

The team became famous for their "Million Dollar Backfield" from 1951 to 1953, though success took time, with their first division title coming only after one of the backline stars left. Today, the 49ers are among the top nine most valuable teams in the world, with over 4 millions of loyal fans online.

A look into the history of the San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers' legacy is filled with legendary moments, heart-stopping victories, and unforgettable comebacks. The franchise was established by the DeBartolo family, notably Denise DeBartolo York in 1946. According to the reports, “The family has controlled the interest of the team for 43 years and saw instant success with five Super Bowl titles coming within the first 17 years of their takeover. Under Denise DeBartolo, the franchise moved from Candlestick Park to an exclusive football arena, The Levi's Stadium in 2014.”  

Imagine starting out strong in the 1940s, battling fiercely against rivals like the Cleveland Browns, but still falling short. Yet, despite those early challenges, the 49ers never gave up. It wasn't just about the talent-they had five future Hall of Famers at one point. But even that wasn't enough to bring them the success they craved in the 1950s. Their story took a dramatic turn in 1979 when the stars aligned. 

Joe Montana entered the scene, and with him came a revolutionary new strategy from coach Bill Walsh – the “West Coast offense.” It wasn't just a game plan; it was magic. Together, they led the 49ers to their first Super Bowl win, and the journey was just getting started. Who could forget that iconic play – “The Catch” – in the NFC Championship, a moment that forever tied Montana and wide receiver Dwight Clark to football lore? The team didn't stop there. The 1980s became their era of dominance.

With the addition of Jerry Rice, Montana and Rice became a duo that took the league by storm. Victory after victory followed, including one of the most lopsided Super Bowl wins ever when the 49ers crushed the Denver Broncos. But just like life, football is full of highs and lows. When Montana left and Steve Young took over, the 49ers still kept fighting and added another Super Bowl win in the 90s. Yet, after Young's retirement, the team went through a tough period.

Seasons passed without the same spark, and it felt like the golden days had slipped away. Then came Jim Harbaugh in 2011. The 49ers found their way back to the playoffs, even reaching the Super Bowl once more, though heartbreakingly falling to the Ravens. The ups and downs continued, but hope was reignited when Kyle Shanahan became head coach.

Under his leadership, with stars like Jimmy Garoppolo and Nick Bosa, the 49ers surged again, making it back to the Super Bowl in 2019. The road was tough, and while they came close to ultimate victory, they fell just short to the Kansas City Chiefs. Then once again in the 2023 season, Shanahan led the team to the Super Bowl, this time with another quarterback, Brock Purdy, against the same team, the Chiefs. However, yet again, they failed! And this year, they will be looking to try for one more time.

Notable milestones and achievements

The 49ers have won five Super Bowl championships, tied for the most in NFL history, with victories in Super Bowls 1981 (XVI), 1984 (XIX), 1988 (XXIII), 1989 (XXIV), 1994 (XXIX). Additionally, last season they were the runner-ups in the Super Bowl game, losing to KC Chiefs.

They have also played 19 conference championship games, in which they have won 8 times (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994, 2012, 2019, 2023.) Furthermore, they have won 22 Division championships (1970, 1971, 1972, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2011, 2012, 2019, 2023).

Major rivalries of the San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers vs Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers and 49ers, two of the NFL's most successful teams, have dominated the Super Bowl stage. Yet, they've never faced each other in the championship. Pittsburgh has appeared in eight Super Bowls, winning six, while San Francisco has seven appearances and five wins. Despite their rich histories, their battles have only taken place in the regular season. Since their first meeting in 1951, they've clashed 23 times, with the 49ers holding 13 victories. Though Pittsburgh struggled early, winning just two of the first seven games, they've turned things around, securing eight wins in the last 15. Their meeting in 2019 was a close 24-20 win for San Francisco. Additionally, the most recent matchup of 2023 where the 49ers defeated the Steel City with an impressive 30-7 victory, has further ignited the rivalry between them. 

San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks: It’s another divisional rivalry in the NFC West, because they are the most successful franchises in that division. This adds fuel to their rivalry. Till now, they have met 52 times, in which Seahawks won 30 games while the 49ers won just 22.  

San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams: It is one of the oldest rivalries in the NFL. The rivalry between the 49ers and Rams is one of the most enduring in the NFL. Since 1950, they've met twice every season, and their competition really intensified in the 1970s as both fought for the NFC West title. Despite the Rams relocating to St. Louis in 1995 and a further re-alignment in 2002, they stayed together in the NFC West. When the Rams moved back to Los Angeles in 2016, the rivalry only grew stronger, with both teams eyeing Super Bowl victories. The deep-rooted history and competition between these two teams make their matchups a must-watch. In total, they have met each other 150 times. The Rams have won 69 games and the 49ers 78. They have also tied for three games till now. 

San Francisco 49ers vs Cleveland Browns: The Browns and the 49ers have played a total of 21 games against each other. In which, the Browns have won 13 while the Niners are behind them with 8 wins. And the interesting fact is that it has been over 35 years since the 49ers traveled to Cleveland to beat the Browns. Last time, it was in 1984. Hence, these factors make Browns a rival team for San Francisco. 

Major contracts of the San Francisco 49ers in 2024

Some key contracts of this year are of Christian McCaffrey, who recently signed a two-year contract extension worth $19 million per year. Additionally, George Kittle would be getting $40 million guaranteed money, with an average salary of $15 million, as per his five-year, $75 million contract of 2020. 

Who are the starters for the 2024 season?

Led by head coach Kyle Shanahan, quarterback Brock Purdy will again be the starter after his superperformance in last season, leading the team to the Super Bowl. However, this year might be some changes in the rest of the roster, as these will be the active players performing under him in 2024:

RB Christian McCaffrey 

WR Deebo Samuel Sr. 

WR Brandon Aiyuk 

WR Jauan Jennings 

TE George Kittle 

FB Kyle Juszczyk 

LT Jaylon Moore 

LG Aaron Banks 

C Jake Brendel 

RG Spencer Burford 

RT Colton McKivitz

LDE Leonard Floyd 

LDT Maliek Collins 

RDT Javon Hargrave 

RDE Nick Bosa 

WLB Dre Greenlaw 

MLB Fred Warner 

SLB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles 

LCB Charvarius Ward 

SS Talanoa Hufanga 

FS Ji'Ayir Brown 

RCB Deommodore Lenoir 

NB Renardo Green

PK Jake Moody 

P Mitch Wishnowsky 

H Mitch Wishnowsky 

PR Trent Taylor 

KR Ronnie Bell 

LS Taybor Pepper

Notable coaches and players

The San Francisco 49ers have been graced by some of football's greatest minds and players. Legendary figures like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, and Steve Young dominated the field in the 1980s, leading the team to four Super Bowl victories, and themselves to the Hall of Famers’ list. Their success was nurtured under the visionary guidance of legendary coach Bill Walsh, who crafted the innovative West Coast Offense. 

Fast forward to the 2000s, the 49ers experienced a rollercoaster ride with coaches like Mike Singletary and Jim Harbaugh. Singletary, a Hall of Famer himself, had a rocky tenure but kept the team competitive. Harbaugh, however, reignited the 49ers' spark, guiding them to the Super Bowl twice in three years. 

Today, Kyle Shanahan continues to build on this rich legacy. His leadership has revived the 49ers, taking them back to the Super Bowl appearances twice and making them a formidable force in the NFL once again. 

The schedule of the San Francisco 49ers