49ers pack up after blowout loss to Seahawks ended dreams of playing Super Bowl at home

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers packed up their belongings and headed home as work was being done around their home venue to get Levi's Stadium ready to host the Super Bowl next month.

A season that featured many bright spots as the Niners overcame a string of injuries to star players to reach the divisional round ended in disappointment when San Francisco lost 41-6 to Seattle on Saturday night just two games shy of a home Super Bowl appearance.

“It hurt,” cornerback Deommodore Lenoir said about seeing the Super Bowl signs outside the stadium as he arrived Monday. “Because this whole season I was telling myself, if we hosted the Super Bowl, we have to be there. So it hurts.”

But the overriding emotion for the 49ers echoed the message that coach Kyle Shanahan gave the team in the losing locker room in Seattle about being proud of how much they overcame this season to go 12-5 in the regular season and beat Philadelphia in the wild-card round.

The Niners played eight games without starting quarterback Brock Purdy, lost star defensive end Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner to season-ending injuries early in the season, played significant time without receiver Ricky Pearsall and lost Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle to an Achilles tendon injury in the win over the Eagles.

“I really do think it was a special year,” Purdy said. “Given the circumstances that we were put in and dealt with and guys going down. You see across the league that sometimes teams don’t really have what it takes to have these kind of circumstances and then push forward and make it to the playoffs and have a chance to be the one seed at the end of the year. All the things that we were able to accomplish, a lot of teams would have thrown in the towel.”

Kittle gave an encouraging update on his health, saying that doctors told him his injury was a “best-case scenario” and should have a shorter recovery time than some Achilles tendon injuries. Kittle wouldn't put a timeline on when he would be ready to play.

Warner said he would have been able to get back on the field from his broken ankle had the Niners made it to the NFC title game. Now he will dial back his rehabilitation a bit to start preparing for next season.

Purdy said he won't need any surgery on the injured toe that sidelined him for half of the season.

In a season filled with injuries, one player remained surprisingly healthy with All-Pro Christian McCaffrey playing all 19 games and leading all running backs with 1,010 offensive snaps in the regular season and playoffs, to go along with 450 touches for 2,314 yards at age 29.

Keeping McCaffrey healthy again next season will be a big key to success for the 49ers as he is a major part of the offense. The other two times McCaffrey had such a heavy workload in one season he dealt with injuries the next, playing only three games in 2020 and four in 2024.

"I think this was one of the most impressive seasons by an individual player ever," Shanahan said. “The dude was unbelievable. His dedication to really empty the tank every single game and to be able to do that many games in a row is something that I’ve never really seen before.”

The return of Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator this season helped the Niners survive the rash of injuries on defense and remain competitive. Now there's a question about whether Saleh will be back next season or if San Francisco will need a fifth defensive coordinator in five seasons.

Saleh is a candidate for several open head coaching jobs and could be on the move. Offense coordinator Klay Kubiak also is a candidate to be a head coach this offseason.

“They’ve been unbelievable,” Shanahan said. “I love both those guys. Two as good of coaches I’ve been around and both will be head coaches, whether it’s in a week or so or whether it’s over the next two years. We’re lucky to have those guys, and for our sake I hope we’ll still have them next year.”

Shanahan did say he wouldn't allow Kubiak to leave to become a primary play-caller for another team.

The 49ers will have the 27th pick in the draft in April and are projected to have two extra compensatory picks in the fourth round and one fifth-round comp pick. San Francisco doesn't have its own pick in the fifth, sixth or seventh rounds.

The Niners have several players eligible to be unrestricted free agents led by receiver Jauan Jennings, who missed training camp practices seeking a long-term extension that never came.

Among the other key players who could hit the open market are defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos, offensive lineman Spencer Burford, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, safety Jason Pinnock, Pro Bowl special teams player Luke Gifford and returner Skyy Moore.

Backup quarterback Mac Jones also could be on the move if another team targets him in a trade to be their starter. Jones signed a two-year deal with San Francisco this offseason and was impressive in eight games as a starter.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

FILE - San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh looks on from the sideline during the second half of an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams, File)

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) tries to get past the Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan walks on the field after an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey walks off the field after an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams (99) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) during the second half of an NFL football divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

MIAMI (AP) — Aaron Judge walked slowly back and forth in the United States dugout Tuesday night while Venezuelan players shed tears and fell to their knees to celebrate the country's first World Baseball Classic title.

Other players from the Americans' $320 million roster stood frozen for several minutes before receiving their silver medals. Bryce Harper, who hit a tying homer in the eighth inning, went over to shake hands with Team Venezuela players before leaving the field.

“In those moments, it's like the Olympics or anywhere else,” Harper said. “I'm really happy for them. Obviously, I want to win no matter what. That's what I play for, is to win a championship and a goal medal. But in that moment it's not about me, it's about us and our game.”

Team USA brought its most loaded roster ever to baseball’s premier international event, but the Americans lost their second straight WBC final after winning the championship in 2017.

“Obviously disappointed,” Judge said. “All of us put on this uniform to go out there and win a gold medal. We fell short of that.”

The U.S. produced just three hits Tuesday night and four runs over the final two games of the WBC — well short of offensive expectations for a roster of players who combined for 382 home runs and 1,111 RBIs last MLB season.

Three years after losing to Shohei Ohtani and Japan in 2023, the Americans were again disappointed, this time by an energetic Venezuelan team led by All-Stars Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel Garcia and Luis Arraez.

Left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez mowed down the Americans' fearsome lineup with measured ease on Tuesday, leaving the colorful celebration to his teammates who met him with claps as he stoically exited the mound in the fifth.

Rodríguez fanned Judge — the U.S. captain went 0 for 4 — twice among four strikeouts and held the Americans to just one hit over 4 1/3 innings.

“I’m not going to make any excuses for us,” said United States manager Mark DeRosa. "I think at the end of the day ... it’s early in spring training. Guys are getting ready for the season. Eventually I think the tournament gets moved and I think the guys are in better form pitching-wise.

“But ultimately it’s who gets hot at the right time, who gets a big swing.”

The Americans have won just one title in six iterations of the tournament. DeRosa indicated that the U.S., which has received more buy-in from marquee MLB position players over the years, is still lacking the same commitments from star pitchers.

Reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal participated this year but made just one start in pool play in order to stick with his ramp-up schedule for the regular season with the Detroit Tigers.

“I think every position player wants to play in it," DeRosa said. “I think from a pitching standpoint, everybody’s at different stages in their career. You've got to get buy-in from the team. You’ve got to get buy-in from the player. You've got to get buy-in from the agent. I think everybody in their heart ... wants to do it. It’s just, what’s the timing of where they are at in their career?”

Venezuela's bullpen gave up only two hits, including Harper's two-run homer over the center-field fence against Andrés Machado in the eighth.

Arraez walked against Garrett Whitlock starting the ninth and pinch-runner Javier Sanoja stole second just ahead of catcher Will Smith’s throw, then came home on Eugenio Suárez double. Suárez spread his arms wide and pointed to the sky at second base while teammates streamed from the dugout to greet Sanoja at the plate.

It signaled another brutal finish could be coming for the U.S., which lost the 2023 WBC title game when Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to win it for Japan.

The American roster was made up of players who have combined for more than 2,300 home runs and 419 saves, and nine of them have played in a World Series.

But they never quite displayed the full extent of their offensive firepower. They hit .250 over seven games with 44 runs, 10 homers and 40 RBIs.

DeRosa said he was surprised by the lack of offense “because of the names at the back of the jersey, but not surprised because of where they’re at in spring training."

“That’s my answer,” he added. “I really don’t have a rhyme or reason to why. I just think you’re either hot or not in a seven-game blast like this.”

After the U.S. beat the Dominican Republic 2-1 in the semifinals, DeRosa said he was still waiting for his team to break loose at the plate.

That will have to wait another three years.

This story has been corrected to show Eduardo Rodríguez pitched 4 1/3 innings, not 5 1/3 innings.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Former MLB player Clayton Kershaw carries a silver medal after the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

United States pitcher Tyler Rogers walks the pitchers mound during the ninth inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

United States manager Mark DeRosa hugs starting pitcher Nolan McLean at the end of the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

United States right fielder Aaron Judge shakes hands with manager Mark DeRosa after receiving their silver medals following the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

United States manager Mark DeRosa relieves United States pitcher Nolan McLean during the fifth inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

United States pitcher Nolan McLean reacts after walking Venezuela Ronald Acuña Jr. during the third inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

United States Aaron Judge gestures after striking out during the fourth inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)