The San Francisco 49ers’ special teams unit, often the punchline during the Kyle Shanahan era, has quietly become one of the biggest reasons the team is still rolling in 2025.
According to an analysis highlighted this week by SFGATE, San Francisco has posted a +7.1 expected points added (EPA) per game improvement on special teams through 14 games. That’s being billed as the largest year-over-year special teams jump this century, a stunning flip for a unit that was a drag on the roster not long ago.
It’s the kind of “hidden yards/hidden points” story that matters even more right now, with the 49ers sitting at 10-4 and heading into a Monday night matchup at the Indianapolis Colts on December 22 with postseason pressure climbing.
49ers’ Special Teams Just Made a Historic Leap
Special teams rarely drives headlines, but it can absolutely decide a season,especially when the margins tighten in December.
The number that jumps off the page: +7.1 EPA per game improved from last season to this season, through 14 games. In plain English: it’s the difference between a unit costing you points every week and one consistently putting you on the right side of field position, kick accuracy, and game-swing moments.
That’s a huge deal for a team that has had to navigate injuries and lineup shuffles all season. When your offense and defense aren’t always at full strength, special teams can be the stabilizer that keeps wins from slipping away.
What Changed for San Francisco in 2025
This turnaround didn’t happen by accident. The 49ers made real, tangible changes—starting with leadership.
San Francisco hired Brant Boyer to run special teams, and the unit’s identity has shifted from “survive” to “win snaps.” The analysis credits Boyer with building pride and accountability into the group, something Shanahan’s teams have been trying to capture for years.
“I think Boyer’s awesome,” Shanahan said in a recent press conference. “Love the guy. Boyer can do anything he wants to do.”
The personnel moves were just as notable. San Francisco moved on from kicker Jake Moody and bringing in Eddy Piñeiro, plus adding veteran specialists like punter Thomas Morstead and long snapper Jon Weeks.
On top of that, the 49ers also injected more juice into the return game, one cited move was adding Skyy Moore as a return option, giving the unit more “flip-the-field” potential.
Put it together and the result is the exact kind of under-the-radar upgrade that can change a team’s ceiling in January.
What It Means Before Colts MNF and a Potential Clinch
The timing is perfect for San Francisco, because the 49ers are entering a week where they can clinch a playoff berth.
Per the league’s Week 16 scenarios, the 49ers can clinch with a win. They can also clinch if Detroit loses, or if both the 49ers and Lions tie.
San Francisco’s path includes that Monday night trip to Indianapolis, followed by home games against the Bears and Seahawks.
And that’s where special teams becomes more than trivia. If you’re playing meaningful games late – on the road, in prime time, with playoff odds on the line – the difference between a clean kicking day and a disaster swing can be the entire season.
For years, special teams was the thing that could sink the 49ers at the worst possible moment. In 2025, it’s suddenly looking like one of their best “extra edges.”
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