At the end of the NFL season, there is only one champion. At the same time, there were eight division winners and eight last-place teams in 2024. The 2024 San Francisco 49ers operated under Murphy’s law. Anything that could go wrong - did go wrong.
The benefit of finishing in last place or with a poor record is that fourth-place teams will draw a fourth-place schedule the next season. With the 11th pick in the NFL draft, the 49ers can land a blue-chip player at the top end of the first round. Couple the high probability of drafting a stud, the 49ers had unfortunate personal and injury luck in 2024, which means a bounce-back season for the 49ers in 2025.