49ers' Cheap Offseason Hands Seahawks Super Bowl Win

Columnist argues 49ers owner Jed York's decision to cut costs led to team's playoff loss and Seahawks' championship

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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SFGATE columnist Eric Ting argues that the San Francisco 49ers' decision to cut costs in the 2025 offseason, rather than spend on key free agents, directly led to their playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks and the Seahawks' subsequent Super Bowl victory. Ting points to the 49ers' salary cap space and several free agents they could have signed who would have improved the team, but owner Jed York opted for financial "restrictions" instead.

Why it matters

The 49ers-Seahawks rivalry has been one of the NFL's most intense in recent years, with the two teams battling for NFC West supremacy. This loss, on the 49ers' home field no less, stings even more given the 49ers' talent level and the fact that the Seahawks were seen as a flawed team that was beatable. The 49ers' cost-cutting measures appear to have directly handed their rivals the Lombardi Trophy.

The details

Despite having over $35 million in salary cap space heading into 2025 free agency, the 49ers made only modest signings like backup tight end Luke Farrell. They passed on re-signing several key players like Maliek Collins and Leonard Floyd, who went on to have productive seasons elsewhere. The 49ers were also linked to free agents like Joey Bosa and DeMarcus Lawrence, who signed cheaper deals with other teams. On offense, the 49ers missed out on center Drew Dalman and wide receiver Davante Adams, both of whom could have helped their struggling unit against the Seahawks.

  • The 49ers lost to the Seahawks in the 2025 playoffs.
  • The Seahawks won the Super Bowl in February 2026.

The players

Jed York

Owner of the San Francisco 49ers who made the decision to cut costs in the 2025 offseason.

John Lynch

General manager of the San Francisco 49ers who cited the need for a financial "reset" as the reason for the team's cost-cutting measures.

Kyle Juszczyk

Fullback for the San Francisco 49ers who said the team had "financial restrictions" in 2025.

Maliek Collins

Defensive tackle who had 6.5 sacks for the Cleveland Browns in 2025 after being released by the 49ers.

Leonard Floyd

Linebacker who had 3.5 sacks for the Atlanta Falcons in 2025 after leaving the 49ers.

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What they’re saying

“I don't know that as we looked at the [free agency] board, that there was somebody that we felt would make an impact more so than making the decision to go pay Brock.”

— Jed York (SFGATE)

“The only way to break Seattle out of its two-high safety look is to run the ball effectively, something he lamented not being able to do in his last two games against them.”

— Kyle Shanahan, 49ers Head Coach (NBC)

“The 49ers were too cheap to match the Los Angeles Rams' offer.”

— Davante Adams (The Athletic)

What’s next

The 49ers will need to be more aggressive in free agency and roster building in 2026 to close the gap with the Seahawks, who appear poised to remain a contender.

The takeaway

This case highlights the consequences of an NFL owner prioritizing cost-cutting over fielding a competitive roster, even when the team has the financial resources to improve. The 49ers' loss to their division rival Seahawks in the playoffs, and the Seahawks' subsequent Super Bowl victory, serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of owner investment in a team's success.