The 49ers have had to overcome plenty of adversity to start the 2025 NFL season, but they still own a winning 5-3 record despite it all.
Entering Week 8 when San Francisco was 5-2, NBC Sports Bay Area asked 49ers fans what they attribute the injury-plagued team’s victories to — and there was one answer that stood above the rest.
Fans credit coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh for keeping the 49ers in winning shape despite season-ending injuries to defensive stalwarts Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, a lingering turf toe issue for starting quarterback Brock Purdy, and countless ailments to other players left and right.
Injuries are a part of the game but #49ers
DEFENSE
DL NIck Bosa
LB Fred Warner
DL Bryce Huff
DL Yetur Gross-Matos
and then today
DL Jordan Elliott
DL Sam Okuayinonu
LB Dee Winters
OFFENSE
QB Brock Purdy
WR Ricky Pearsall
OL Ben Bartch
C Jake Brendel
WR Brandon Aiyuk
— Jennifer Lee Chan -all platforms: @jenniferleechan (@jenniferleechan) October 26, 2025
Coaching received 63.7 percent of the fan vote, followed by running back Christian McCaffrey’s performance (17.3 percent), Mac Jones stepping up in place of Purdy (12.4 percent) and the team’s easy schedule (6.6 percent).
The offensive-minded Shanahan and defensive guru Saleh have continued to give the 49ers a chance at winning week-in and week-out. While the team didn’t look as sharp on either side of the ball in its 26-15 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday at NRG Stadium, San Francisco still owns an NFC playoff spot as the No. 7 seed entering Week 9.
As the 49ers look to become healthier in the coming weeks, it’s clear fans have noticed the job the coaching staff has done in keeping them prepared to win.
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