CLEVELAND — The 49ers left their coldest game of the 2025 NFL season with a 26-8 win over the Cleveland Browns, and maybe the most unlikely players making the biggest impact. 

Clelin Ferrell and Keion White weren’t even on San Francisco’s roster at the beginning of the season, but they finished their afternoon with three sacks of Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders — White with one and two from Ferrell.

“From my perspective, being new, this team didn’t listen to any of the noise,” Ferrell said. “I think the biggest word is belief, regardless of who’s in there. This team has shown that we have a lot of good players that can really really play, regardless of who is in there, that have the confidence and the coaches giving us that belief. That regardless of who’s out there, we have a chance to win games.”

After losing defensive star players in Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Mykel Williams to season-ending injuries, the 49ers have had their ups and downs. After the group’s performance in Cleveland, San Francisco seems to be hitting their stride as it heads down the season’s homestretch. 

Ferrell led the team Sunday with nine tackles — six solo, two for a loss — and two quarterback sacks for a total loss of 24 yards. White sacked Sanders for a loss of 10 yards, and registered three solo tackles and a quarterback hit. 

Coach Kyle Shanahan was pleased with the defensive line’s performance, which at times used a five-man front to slow down the Browns’ offense. 

“I thought the D was setting the tone all day,” Shanahan said. “I mean they got that one score with the double move they ran. It felt like nine plays in a row, set it up, and got that score. Every drive after that, I thought our D was real good. We made some adjustments at halftime, did better in the run game in the second half. That fourth down was big. Just turnovers when we stop them on fourth down.”

Ferrell, who was a healthy scratch in Week 11, did not feel vindication in his standout performance and only is looking forward to helping the defense keep up its winning ways. 

“For me, it’s not taking anything for granted,” Ferrell said. “When I came back, this team was right in the thick of it. At the end of the day, the biggest reason why I came back here was to win. I’m just thankful for my teammates, coaches, everybody in the building just helping me get prepared and be ready for the moment. It was good.”

Ferrell is part of a defensive turnaround that has helped the 49ers put together three consecutive wins as they head into their Week 14 bye. After allowing 401 yards of offense to the Los Angeles Rams and 488 yards to the Arizona Cardinals in Weeks 10 and 11, San Francisco has kept its opponents under 300 yards in each of the past two contests. 

“I just think today proved that everybody that’s on that D-line, regardless of whether you’ve new or been here, is committed to wins, and doing whatever that takes,” Ferrell said. “Whether that’s getting sacks, or stopping the run, or fighting all day and maybe getting a sack and maybe not, just trying to make a play at the end. 

“It’s just that commitment to winning. Regardless of wherever you’re playing at, if you’re winning, your play just looks 10 times better. I think that mindset leads this team to all the other stuff.”

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