From California Post · · 1m 20s
Steve Young's warning about the 49ers
The Niners just flattened the NFC's supposed super team, and a Hall of Famer says everyone saw it coming wrong.
In brief
The Niners just flattened the NFC's supposed super team, and a Hall of Famer says everyone saw it coming wrong. Talent on paper loses to talent on the field, and a healthy San Francisco roster has five Hall of Fame caliber players ready to prove it. Originally reported by California Post.
A 27-7 wake-up call
San Francisco opened the season by beating the Rams 27-7 in Australia. Nobody had that scoreline on their card.
The Rams were the paper favorite
Los Angeles was crowned the NFC's team to beat before a single snap, built around additions like Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie and Aaron Donald.
Five Hall of Famers
Steve Young put a number on the 49ers roster and said a healthy version of it can hang with anyone, any week.
“You've got five Hall of Famers on that football team, and if healthy, they can be in the mix with anybody anytime.”
Sleeping on them is foolish
Young did not soften it. He called out anyone still treating San Francisco as an afterthought in the conference.
“Anyone who sleeps on the Niners is an idiot.”
Health is the whole question
Injuries, not talent, are what have kept fans from taking the 49ers seriously as contenders. Keep the roster upright and the math changes.
“Maintaining and keeping people on the field, they're gonna be in the mix.”
One game, but a real one
The Rams are still good and that dud was probably an outlier. It does not erase what the 49ers showed they can do in 2026.
What matters most
Talent on paper loses to talent on the field, and a healthy San Francisco roster has five Hall of Fame caliber players ready to prove it.
