49ers Routed by Seahawks 41-6 in Worst Playoff Loss Since 1987

San Francisco's season ended in a decisive and painful fashion as the 49ers were beaten 41-6 by the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round at Lumen Field on Jan. 17, 2026. A 95-yard kickoff-return touchdown by Rashid Shaheed and three rushing touchdowns from Kenneth Walker set an early tone that the 49ers never matched, producing a 35-point loss — the franchise's worst playoff defeat since 1987.

Seattle built an immediate lead and sustained it across four quarters. The official scoring line read Sea 17, 7, 10, 7 — 41; SF 0, 6, 0, 0 — 6. San Francisco's offense struggled to sustain drives, turning the ball over and repeatedly stalling in opponent territory. Defensively, the 49ers were unable to contain Seattle's ground game after the early special-teams score shifted momentum firmly to the home side.

Injuries that plagued the team throughout the regular season carried into the postseason. Key contributors, including tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner, missed time or played at limited capacity during critical stretches. Those absences exposed depth problems and challenged the coaching staff's ability to adjust play-calling and personnel in a high-stakes road game.

For San Francisco County, the loss has both communal and economic ramifications. The "Faithful" who traveled north or gathered at local watch parties in the city were left without the exhilaration of a home playoff run, and local businesses that benefit from playoff weekends missed the boost that comes from hosting home postseason games. The defeat also shifts attention to the offseason: roster construction, injury rehabilitation, and salary cap decisions will take center stage for fans and season-ticket holders weighing renewal or resale choices.

Statistically, this defeat punctuates a season that, despite overachieving at times, fell short when roster health mattered most. The magnitude of the loss — the largest playoff margin in 39 years — underlines the urgency of front-office evaluations and medical staff reviews as the franchise enters free agency and the draft.

What comes next for readers is a familiar local rhythm: scrutiny of offseason moves, tracking the recovery timelines for injured leaders, and watching how the front office balances immediate fixes with long-term sustainability. For the Faithful, recovery begins now — in conversations at neighborhood bars, in analysis from local beat writers, and in the decisions the team makes between now and training camp.