​The 49ers’ offense didn’t merely move the ball in 2025—it consistently finished drives with touchdowns. A drive-outcome breakdown from @NutshellSportz, built on nflfastR data, ranked San Francisco seventh in the NFL in the share of offensive drives that ended in a touchdown, placing the 49ers firmly among the league’s most reliable finishers. The numbers support that conclusion. San Francisco converted 65.2% of its red-zone possessions into touchdowns, the second-best rate in football, scoring on 43 of 66 trips inside the 20. This ability to close out series carried over to other stages of possession as well—the 49ers converted 49.8% of third downs, also second in the NFL, and 59.1% on fourth down.
A large portion of that efficiency stemmed from ball control. The team averaged 6.6 plays and 35.3 yards per drive, both among the league’s top 10, and they held the ball for 3:05 per possession, longer than nearly every other team. With only 170 total drives—tied for 28th-most in the league—the 49ers didn’t have as many chances as some offenses, but they made the most of the opportunities they did get, averaging 2.56 points per drive.
San Francisco’s kicking game reinforced the overall precision. The placekicker connected on 91.7% of field-goal attempts, including a flawless 11-for-11 from 40-49 yards, and the 49ers punted just 44 times all season, the second-fewest in the league—a sign that drives rarely stalled completely. The sole weakness was turnovers, with a 12.9% turnover rate ranking higher than most teams in football. Even so, when the 49ers avoided giving the ball away, they were among the most reliable touchdown-finishing offenses in the NFL.
This success speaks not only to Kyle Shanahan’s play-calling but also to the team’s ability to execute the plan at a high level. Quarterback Brock Purdy and, when needed, Mac Jones, were effective in managing the field and keeping the offense in rhythm, while weapons like Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and a supporting cast contributed to a prolific scoring profile that kept San Francisco competitive in every game. The cohesion across position groups and the execution under pressure underscored why this unit was one of the league’s best at finishing drives with touchdowns. This piece originally appeared on Niners Wire and highlights the 49ers’ status as one of the NFL’s premier finishers when it comes to turning drives into points.