The 49ers are back in the Super Bowl after a three-season hiatus where they fell a game short twice in the last two years.
San Francisco’s dominance over the last half decade has led to a core of players that’s stuck with the team since that 2019 season. 11 players who were with the club that year are still with the club in 2023 as they ascend back to the NFL’s biggest stage.
Here’s a quick rundown of those 11 players who were on both iterations of the 49ers:
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It’s hard to envision the Kyle Shanahan version of the 49ers without Juszczyk. His versatility make him as essential in 2023 as he was for the 2019 squad.
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Samuel was just a rookie in 2019, but his versatility was on display even then. His evolution as a dual-threat player has been one of the key reasons the 49ers have managed to keep their Super Bowl window open since their last trip.
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Oddly enough, Kittle’s 1,000-yard 2023 season was his first year with 1,000 yards since the 2019 campaign. He was younger and more spry as a playmaker then, but he’s still the best all-around tight end in football four years later.
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In 2019 Dwelley carved out a role as the No. 2 tight end for the 49ers. He even saw action as the TE1 and as a fullback when Kittle and Juszczyk were hurt. He played just four snaps in Super Bowl LIV though, and this year for Super Bowl LVIII he’s on IR with an ankle injury.
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Bosa was the 2019 Defensive Rookie of the Year after a sensational first season. He’s only gotten better since then and earned a Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. His 2023 campaign hasn’t been as dominant, but the version of Bosa who’ll play in Super Bowl LVIII is better than the one who dominated Super Bowl LIV.
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In 2019 Armstead was the 49ers’ sack leader. This year he’s been derailed some by injuries, but he’ll be a key piece for San Francisco’s defensive front again if they want to knock off the Chiefs.
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Givens was an undrafted rookie in 2019. He played in just one game and was inactive for the playoffs. Now he’s an integral piece of the 49ers’ defensive line…
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