Year after year, the 49ers were a veritable red and gold standard, four times reaching the NFC Championship game since 2020, twice climbing way up to the hallowed place where Joe Montana used to live, only to witness the Lombardi Trophy hoisted by Patrick Mahomes.

But suddenly the sky was falling: 6-11 in 2024, an army of past key contributors shown the salary-cap door, the faithful confused and fearing the worst, critics writing premature obituaries on the 2025 season.

Which opened with WR Brandon Aiyuk (knee) sidelined for an indefinite period, then a hamstring injury to TE George Kittle, and a shoulder and turf toe injury to QB Brock Purdy in Week 1 and Mac Jones filling in behind center.

Yet the 49ers are 3-0 as they host the Jaguars on Sunday.