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ESPN's Stephen A. Smith isn't buying the San Francisco 49ers as one of the NFC's top contenders entering the 2026 season.
During First Take, Smith predicted San Francisco will finish just third in the NFC West, pointing to the strength of the division rather than a lack of talent on Kyle Shanahan's roster.
"I have no doubt that if they're healthy, they can answer the call. My question is, can we expect them to be healthy come postseason time?" Smith said. "I mean, I'm just looking around, and I'm like, no disrespect to San Francisco, you're a good team, you're just in the wrong damn division! That's their problem. I see third place."
It's a bold prediction, but one that's rooted in how much tougher the NFC West has become.
The Seattle Seahawks enter the season as the defending Super Bowl champions after their title run last year, while the Los Angeles Rams are widely viewed as one of the favorites to represent the NFC after an aggressive offseason. Los Angeles strengthened an already talented roster by adding All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett and standout cornerback Trent McDuffie, giving Sean McVay one of the league's deepest teams on both sides of the ball.
That leaves San Francisco trying to keep pace in arguably the NFL's toughest division.
Smith's prediction may surprise some, but finishing third in the NFC West isn't exactly unfamiliar territory for Shanahan's teams. Since taking over as head coach in 2017, the 49ers have finished third or worse in the division five times. However, they've also become much more consistent in recent years, ending up outside the top two only twice since the start of the 2021 season.
Of course, much of San Francisco's outlook hinges on health. The 49ers have repeatedly seen promising seasons derailed by injuries, something Smith referenced while questioning whether they'll have their full roster available when the playoffs arrive. Christian McCaffrey missed most of the 2024 season when San Francisco finished 6-11 and at the bottom of the division, and the team is already facing injuries in 2026 with George Kittle still recovering from a torn Achilles and Ricky Pearsall already lost for the season with a PCL injury.
If the 49ers stay healthy, they have the talent to contend with anyone. But with the defending Super Bowl champions in Seattle and a Rams team loaded after adding Garrett and McDuffie, San Francisco could once again find itself looking up in the NFC West standings.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Stephen A. Smith makes bold prediction for 49ers 2026 season
Continue reading...
During First Take, Smith predicted San Francisco will finish just third in the NFC West, pointing to the strength of the division rather than a lack of talent on Kyle Shanahan's roster.
"I have no doubt that if they're healthy, they can answer the call. My question is, can we expect them to be healthy come postseason time?" Smith said. "I mean, I'm just looking around, and I'm like, no disrespect to San Francisco, you're a good team, you're just in the wrong damn division! That's their problem. I see third place."
It's a bold prediction, but one that's rooted in how much tougher the NFC West has become.
The Seattle Seahawks enter the season as the defending Super Bowl champions after their title run last year, while the Los Angeles Rams are widely viewed as one of the favorites to represent the NFC after an aggressive offseason. Los Angeles strengthened an already talented roster by adding All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett and standout cornerback Trent McDuffie, giving Sean McVay one of the league's deepest teams on both sides of the ball.
That leaves San Francisco trying to keep pace in arguably the NFL's toughest division.
Smith's prediction may surprise some, but finishing third in the NFC West isn't exactly unfamiliar territory for Shanahan's teams. Since taking over as head coach in 2017, the 49ers have finished third or worse in the division five times. However, they've also become much more consistent in recent years, ending up outside the top two only twice since the start of the 2021 season.
Of course, much of San Francisco's outlook hinges on health. The 49ers have repeatedly seen promising seasons derailed by injuries, something Smith referenced while questioning whether they'll have their full roster available when the playoffs arrive. Christian McCaffrey missed most of the 2024 season when San Francisco finished 6-11 and at the bottom of the division, and the team is already facing injuries in 2026 with George Kittle still recovering from a torn Achilles and Ricky Pearsall already lost for the season with a PCL injury.
If the 49ers stay healthy, they have the talent to contend with anyone. But with the defending Super Bowl champions in Seattle and a Rams team loaded after adding Garrett and McDuffie, San Francisco could once again find itself looking up in the NFC West standings.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Stephen A. Smith makes bold prediction for 49ers 2026 season
Continue reading...
