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The San Francisco 49ers have enjoyed their strongest seasons under head coach Kyle Shanahan when their defense led the way, with 2023 standing out as a notable exception when the offense carried the load with explosive, near-video-game scoring. In contrast, the 2019 and 2022 campaigns showcased one of the league’s elite defenses since Shanahan took the helm. Using DVOA by year, which measures schedule-adjusted efficiency, here’s how the 49ers’ defense has performed since 2019:
– 2019: -20.3% (2nd)
– 2020: -9.8% (7th)
– 2021: -10.2% (4th)
– 2022: -14.5% (2nd)
– 2023: 9.6% (4th)
– 2024: -1.6% (13th)
– 2025: 9.0% (27th)
In this context, lower numbers represent stronger defensive performance. The defense reached its peak in 2019 and showed weakness last season, with EPA and success-rate figures remaining broadly similar across years.
Today we’re exploring whether the 49ers can field a top-12 defense in 2026. Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has overseen several strong units this decade. While he doesn’t have a superstar like Aaron Donald at his disposal, San Francisco has added solid depth to complement Nick Bosa, who should be highly motivated after missing the majority of last season due to a torn ACL.
A lot hinges on how the defensive line functions in concert with itself. It will be crucial for players like Alfred Collins and CJ West to occupy blocks and clear paths, enabling young talents Romello Height and Gracen Halton to contribute on passing downs. Stopping the run early is essential to setting up opportunities to rush the passer.
From your vantage point, do you believe the 49ers added enough on defense this offseason to land in the upper echelon of DVOA? Can the defense compensate for any shortcomings in the secondary? Will the secondary look more capable if the pass rush improves ? Reaching the top-12 in DVOA would position the 49ers well to compete for a division title and advance in the playoffs, potentially bringing multiple postseason wins.
Join the conversation and share your expectations for the 49ers’ defense in 2026. Your insights help shape our ongoing discussion about how far San Francisco can go and what improvements matter most for a championship run.