Since Brock Purdy took over as starting quarterback in 2022, the San Francisco 49ers have been in discussions as a potential championship contender. Last year, the team fell short due to a variety of issues, mainly injuries.
For more than two decades, the Niners have either missed the playoffs or played in the NFC Championship game. They have never been bounced in the opening rounds of the postseason during that span.
The last time San Francisco failed to make the NFC Championship game during a playoff run was in 2002 when they lost in the Divisional Round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.