Like the Cowboys, the 49ers are a brand that the NFL just loves to feature when it makes sense to do so. Despite having an injury-plagued six-win campaign in 2024, San Francisco still got five prime-time games at the initial 2025 schedule release.
After overcoming more injuries to reach 12 wins and the divisional round in 2024, the 49ers are unlikely to suddenly step out of the spotlight. Let’s not forget that starting quarterback Brock Purdy missed eight games last season, and the 49ers still had a chance to claim the NFC’s No. 1 seed in Week 18.
There’s a very real chance that, if healthy, the 49ers will be one of the conference’s top contenders again in 2026. On top of that, they feature bona fide stars like Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Nick Bosa, and George Kittle—even head coach Kyle Shanahan can be considered a television draw at this point.
We already know that San Francisco will battle the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, September 10 in Melbourne. Expect several more prime-time games to dot the 49ers’ schedule.
Prime-Time Prediction: Five Games