For most fans, the 49ers' 2017 season is marked by Marquise Goodwin's 83-yard touchdown catch against the Giants and Jimmy Garoppolo's gunslinger touchdown pass to Trent Taylor against the Jaguars.
But for anyone who was there at every stage, one of the most vivid memories was something far more grave: Seeing an ambulance roll onto a silent practice field and take a rookie linebacker away.
Donavin Newsom was knocked unconscious when he was struck with an inadvertent, friendly fire hit to the helmet from strong safety Chanceller James on August 8. What had been a lively training-camp practice instantly became eerily quiet as medical trainers worked on Newsom and then called in paramedics.