One thing you would do as GM of the 49ers to make sure we beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl? (@connor_p.g)

One thing? Have you seen how much the 49ers have altered their defense since the Chiefs outlasted them in Vegas? They’ve changed defensive coordinators. They’ve welcomed new defenders and bid farewell to others, including Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, Chase Young, Clelin Ferrell, and Oren Burks. And they haven’t re-signed Tashaun Gipson or Logan Ryan. One more thing? I’d use the first-round pick on a defensive end who was born to sack Patrick Mahomes — or stop him on a fourth-and-1 run with the Super Bowl on the line.

49ers Super Bowl dynasty? LIX (59) and LX (60)? (@jbati_8052)

Look, they need to win their first Super Bowl in THIRTY years before banking on a repeat. It reminds me of when a 49ers rookie walked up to John Madden some 20 years ago; he asked Madden how many Super Bowls he’d won, and after Madden replied one (the Raiders’ first in 1976), the player said he was going to win three, to which Madden countered: “I’d just worry about getting that first one, if I were you.” That player won none.

If the 49ers trade up in the first round, what position do they target? (@podman61)

Offensive tackle or defensive end, although wide receiver is in play if the 49ers trade Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. Tackle is the more common prediction, but I say that’s more for insurance in case Trent Williams retires in the next year or two, rather than an immediate replacement for right tackle Colton McKivitz, who just got an extension through 2025. Not a lot of defensive ends are generating hype, which could allow the 49ers to sneak up for one to learn behind Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd.

Why is Jed talking about Purdy asking for something no one has ever asked for before? (@dcl24sc)?

York, at last week’s NFL owners meeting, foreshadowed how Brock Purdy’s 2025 extension could be the largest in team history. If he joins the club of NFL quarterbacks making over $40 million annually, Purdy’s deal would eclipse the 49ers’ last year for defensive end Nick Bosa (five years, $170 million), as well as the 2018 gamble that briefly made Jimmy Garoppolo the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback (five years, $137.5 million).

Purdy’s contract can’t be adjusted until after he completes this upcoming, third season. On top of his $870,000 last season, he received $739,795 from the NFL’s performance-based pay program, the NFL announced Monday. (Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir earned an additional $790,744 through that system that factors in playing time and compensation compared to teammates; he had a $940,000 in base salary.)

Who gets a long-term deal first, Aiyuk or J.J.? (@bigev49er)

My money (OK, the Yorks’ money) is on Jauan Jennings, only because his contract should be less complicated than the extension that Aiyuk should get as training camp opens. Both wide receivers are under 49ers control for 2024: Aiyuk’s fifth-year option calls for a $14.1 million salary, while Jennings drew a $4.9 million tender he’s expected to sign as a restricted free agent. Whereas Jennings might give the 49ers a hometown discount, AIyuk should not.

Please keep Brandon Aiyuk!! (@mj_arroyo)

Your wish should be granted in about four months, seeing how the 49ers typically let their money accrue interest in the bank until camp approaches and urgency prompts them to make a deal for their annual homegrown star. Aiyuk is understandably anxious, saying he wants what he deserves or else he’ll walk, though the 49ers shouldn’t dare trade Brock Purdy’s favorite target. “We’ve got professionals working on both sides, so hopefully we can come to a professional agreement and continue to play professional football,” Aiyuk said on last week’s Nightcap podcast.

Aiyuk said he was in the facility last week. Do the players normally use the equipment for working out or rehab? (@Michael21985873)

Aiyuk, on that same podcast, indeed noted that he’d been at the 49ers’ headquarters, though he didn’t specify if he was looking into contract matters or training on his own. Players rehabilitating from injuries can do so there. Otherwise, the voluntary offseason program starts April 15, with six organized team activity sessions set between May 20-31; the mandatory minicamp is June 4-6.

When does the season start? (@lowkss_213)

Thursday, Sept. 5 is the scheduled start, kicking off with The Team That Beat The 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. The next day, the NFL plays its first regular-season game in Brazil, between the Philadelphia Eagles and a team to be announced, though reports predict it will be the Cleveland Browns or the Green Bay Packers. The 49ers have opened on the road five of the past six seasons.

Likelihood the Niners get to the Super Bowl next season and avoid the typical hangover? (@the_blair__)

Their offense returns intact, their defense welcomes back stars at every level, and their overall experience makes them the widespread favorite to win Super Bowl LIX, according to the sportsbooks. A runner-up hangover hasn’t derailed their past two seasons after NFC Championship Game defeats. The Silver Slugger Award is theirs come Feb. 9 in New Orleans.

Are we done signing (free agents), and, if not, what are names we might add? (@matty__maff; @Michael_budd)

I’d expect a signing or two, just not a cap-crunching deal. They can fill their receiver/returner need by bringing back Richie James or Trent Taylor, or by chasing Deonte Harty or Jamal Agnew. A slew of veteran safeties remain available. Mid-April signings in recent years brought in defensive lineman Arden Key (2021), running back Wayne Gallman (2021), defensive end Kemoko Turay (2022), wide receiver Chris Conley (2023), and defensive end Kerry Hyder Jr. (2023).

Is anyone around the league recruiting special-teams players or coaches from the XFL to deal with the new kickoff rules? (@sluggishcheetah)

The XFL merged with the USFL to form the UFL, whose season began Saturday. So, those experts are busy, but the 49ers can rely on veteran special-teams coordinator Brian Schneider to plot their approach. More kickoff returns are expected, but that would not entice me to expose a big-time playmaker such as Christian McCaffrey or Deebo Samuel in that still-hazardous, specialized role, at least not until the stakes rise for the playoffs.

Given Kyle’s comments during the league meetings and their past draft history (or lack thereof), how certain are we that they’ll actually address the offensive line in the draft? (@KevinAMolina)

They have 10 picks. They have needs, at least for better competition and depth. Just because they did not draft an offensive lineman last year doesn’t mean they hate doing so. Their starters include left guard Aaron Banks (2021 second round), right tackle Colton McKivitz (2020 fifth round) and, at times, right guard Spencer Burford (2022 fourth round). Anybody they draft in the first three rounds could challenge for a starting job, and if it’s a tackle, then he perhaps he’s envisioned as a successor to All-Pro Trent Williams.

Will Dre Greenlaw be ready for Week 1? (@jacob.problemz.19)

The 49ers are not publicly pushing for that timeline, even if Greenlaw is personally intending to come back in time from his Achilles tear in the Super Bowl. Lynch indicated last week that Greenlaw could very well start the season on the Physically Unable To Perform list, which would keep him out at least the first four games. Hence, they signed De’Vondre Campbell in free agency as both a potential replacement and starter.

Will the 49ers go with the best-player-available malarkey from the draft or select players to fit specific roster needs? (@MrEd315)

It’s typically a balance of both, but they should lean more on BPA because this roster is not as needy as those of past years. Then again, this draft should pay off in 2025-27 and beyond, not necessarily 2024.

“It’s a good problem when you’re quarterback is one of the highest-paid guys on your team and in the league,” York told Bay Area reporters Tuesday at the NFL’s annual owners meetings in Orlando, Fla.

Purdy must finish out the third year of his especially modest rookie contract — at a 2024 salary of $985,000 — before the collective bargaining agreement allows him to get a new deal, one befitting a starting quarterback who guided the 49ers to back-to-back NFC Championship Games as well as last month’s Super Bowl overtime defeat.

“It’s what the market is. Brock is going to ask for something that no one has ever asked for before,” York said without trepidation. “I don’t know how many players are making over $40 million (annually) as a quarterback right now.”

The answer is nine, including four who crested the $50 million annual mark: Joe Burrow (Bengals, $55 million), Justin Herbert (Chargers, $52.5 million), Lamar Jackson (Ravens, $52 million) and Jalen Hurts (Eagles, $51 million), according to OverTheCap.com. The Cowboys announced Tuesday that Dak Prescott will play out his contract this season that pays him a $29 million salary before he, Purdy and surely others vie for new deals in 2025.

With Purdy still anchored to his rookie contract — a $3.7 million deal as the 2022 draft’s final pick — the 49ers have had the financial wherewithal to pay top-end salaries at other positions, a luxury that threatens to become endangered once Purdy strikes it rich like Jimmy Garoppolo did in 2018 (five years, $137.5 million).

“When we signed Jimmy several years ago, it was the largest deal in the history of the NFL, for three minutes,” York said. “But Jimmy was at ($27.5 million). That’s what the market is and you have to accept the reality of the world.

“To me, the quarterback is the most important position not just in football, but all of sports, and those guys should be paid a lot of money.”

The 49ers’ more pressing contract situation revolves around wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who is slated to make $14.1 million on his fifth-year option. Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have insisted they want to keep Aiyuk and reward him with a multi-year deal, after the 2020 first-round pick evolved into a 1,000-yard receiver each of the past two seasons.

A year ago, Purdy’s future was in question as he underwent surgery on his right elbow. In his ensuing comeback, he set the 49ers’ record for most passing yards in a season (4,280) and he became their first Pro Bowl quarterback in 20 years.

York is not wincing at eventually having to again pay top dollar for a quarterback, saying: “There’s a lot of planning that goes into it. I’m glad we have Paraag (Marathe), J.L. (John Lynch), Kyle (Shanahan). They’re the ones that are going to figure out the details of it, and I just have to sign the check. My part in that is kind of easy.”

York is adamant about rewarding homegrown stars rather than relying on higher-risk, high-priced signings in free agency. “Brandon, guys that you drafted, I’d much rather pay guys we drafted than guys we didn’t draft,” York said. “We’ll do everything we can, like we have in the past, to find a way to make those work.”

At this week’s NFL meetings, York is expected to ascend from 49ers CEO and replace his mother, Denise DeBartolo-York, as principal owner of a franchise in which their family controls 97 percent of the stakes. While that would give him the 49ers’ power as their lone representative in NFL meetings, he has essentially served as the ownership group’s spokesman for his 13 years as CEO, though that’s essentially amounted to a once-a-year press conference. Instead while deferred to Shanahan and Lynch.

“It’s a move from a family standpoint to just keep this team in our family for generations to come,” York said. “It’s reflective of how we’ve sort of operated. My parents are going to stay the co-chairmen. I don’t think you’re really going to see any change. It’s more of a long-term planning thing. … Estate planning stuff is always a unique process within families. It’s something we’ve always discussed. Watching different family successions and seeing how reading a will can be very different than having a conversation with everybody still around, to walk through and talk through, we thought it was a better process to transition into it smoothly. Being a very close family, I don’t ever anticipate any problems with my family. But it’s an easier, smoother transition to make sure this team stays in our family.”

As for losing a third Super Bowl since his parents assumed ownership in 2000 from his uncle, Eddie DeBartolo, York is preaching not only patience but the need to take pride in those championship close calls.

“You can’t be ashamed of a successful season,” York said. “Our goal is always going to be to win Super Bowls. Even if we won the game, it’s not like, ‘OK, well, we can take off 2024 because we won the Super Bowl in 2023.’ Our goal is always going to be the same.

“… It’s almost worse to a Super Bowl than not make the playoffs, and I don’t think that’s how teams should feel. I would give anything to have this game or four years ago against Kansas City, you can’t leave and say the whole season was a disgrace. It’s a disappointment to not win, but you can’t destroy yourself and everything you built because you didn’t finish and hit your ultimate goal. That doesn’t mean we’re not going to work towards it and do everything we can to build this thing so we get back there and go win it in New Orleans this year.”

#49ers George Kittle in attendance to support his Alma matter Iowa for their Women’s NCAA basketball game

: @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/hL833sZdpx

— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) March 26, 2024

Former Iowa Hawkeyes George and Claire Kittle were in Iowa City Monday night to cheer on the women’s basketball team and the NCAA Division 1 all-time leading scorer, Caitlin Clark.

George Kittle is in the building to watch Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes take on West Virginia in her final home game of her career#ESPN #Hawkeyes #Kittle #CaitlinClark pic.twitter.com/BeF6M1fNpw

— Curtis Feder (@CurtisFeder_) March 26, 2024

George Kittle got an incredible round of applause as he walked to his seat! pic.twitter.com/U7a9WFJqgP

— Owen Siebring (@owensiebring) March 25, 2024

The San Francisco 49ers star tight end somehow managed to squeeze into his wife’s former Iowa basketball jersey. Claire played on the team between 2012-2016 — the same time George played football — and the two met as freshmen.

This game is tighter than George Kittle’s jersey pic.twitter.com/MLE0wYFIqb

— Madelyn Burke (@MadelynBurke) March 26, 2024

The reason George Kittle’s jersey was so tight last night is because it was one of Claire’s from college pic.twitter.com/DtG8Ws6Y8r

— DraftKings (@DraftKings) March 26, 2024

The Kittles’ alma mater advanced to the Sweet Sixteen round in the NCAA tournament defeating West Virginia 65-54. It was Caitlin Clark’s last game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena after she announced plans to enter the WNBA draft in a few weeks. The Kittles posed with the predicted No. 1 pick after the game.

Awesome: Iowa alums 49ers George Kittle and wife Claire showing their support for @IowaWBB and star player Caitlin Clark pic.twitter.com/7TVBPY6lDk

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 26, 2024

Kittle is the second 49ers star to attend a women’s NCAA tournament game in as many days. Brock Purdy and his wife, Jenna, were at Maples Pavilion Sunday, watching Stanford beat their alma mater Iowa State in OT.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Kickoff returns are returning to the NFL.

Team owners on Tuesday approved a new rule that will take what essentially had become “a dead play” and make it an integral part of the game again, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the league hasn’t announced the change.

The major overhaul to special teams — which has been in the works for years — takes elements of the kickoff rules used in the XFL and tweaks them for use in the NFL beginning in 2024. The rule will be in play for one season on a trial basis and then be subject to renewal in 2025.

“I think it’s good for the game,” said Rams coach Sean McVay, who is one of three coaches on the eight-member committee. “I think all the intentions are in the right direction, and I’m really appreciative of the time and effort that the special teams coordinators have put in to try to be able to keep this play relevant in our game.”

For a standard kickoff, the ball would be kicked from the 35-yard line with the 10 kick coverage players lined up at the opposing 40, with five on each side of the field.

The return team would have at least nine blockers lined up in the “set up zone” between the 30- and 35-yard line, with at least seven of those players touching the 35. There would be up to two returners allowed inside the 20.

Only the kicker and two returners would be allowed to move until the ball hits the ground or was touched by a returner inside the 20.

Any kick that reaches the end zone in the air can be returned, or the receiving team can opt for a touchback and possession at the 30. Any kick that reaches the end zone in the air and goes out of bounds or out of the end zone also would result in a touchback at the 30.

If a ball hits a returner or the ground before the end zone and goes into the end zone, a touchback would be at the 20 or the play could be returned. Any kick received in the field of play would have to be returned.

“It’s a drastic kind of move that’s going to be way different,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh, a former special teams coordinator. “Is that the right move at this time? I don’t know. I think that’s to be determined.”

Under current rules, any touchback — or if a returner calls for a fair catch in the field of play — results in the receiving team getting the ball at its 25.

The proposal needed 24 of 32 votes to pass.

“I’m all for it,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “You have 2,000 dead plays. Nobody wants to see that. It’ll add excitement and newness.”

___

AP Pro Football Writer Mark Long contributed to this report.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

That loss was not rehashed in his 30-minute session with reporters at the NFL’s annual owners meeting in Orlando, Fla.

Instead, Shanahan mostly spoke about changes to his coaching staff and the Niners’ defense, going so far as to say the 49ers’ run defense last season was the worst in his seven seasons at the helm.

Here are the top 10 topics Shanahan covered, as captured in a video posted by The Athletic’s David Lombardi:

1. SORENSEN AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Nick Sorensen’s familiarity with Shanahan, his two-year apprenticeship on the defensive staff, and his ability to relate well with players earned him a promotion to defensive coordinator, a role Steve Wilks was fired from after one season.

“I just love where he’s at from a football mind,” Shanahan said. “Our players love him. He’s been talking to our team every Thursday, doing the Ball (turnover-oriented) meetings. Our players are used to him and it’s a great opportunity for him. We’re happy to put him in this position.

“I’ve been with him the last two years, mainly. When you’re with somebody, it’s not really an interview that changes it. It’s being with somebody in the building every day. I thought he was close last year to being ready, and I think he’s even more ready now.”

2. RUN DEFENSE ISSUES

The 49ers allowed the NFL’s third-fewest rushing yards in the regular season before they proved vulnerable in the playoffs, where their three opponents averaged 5.2 yards per carry and each ran for at least 130 yards. The Detroit Lions ran for 182 yards and three touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game.

“We obviously got beat on some crack tosses too much, and once that did happen, it didn’t stop,” Shanahan said. “I mean, we got more ran on us last year than I’ve ever seen in my career. That’s what happens when you don’t stop that bleeding right away: People keep attacking it. That made it a bigger challenge for us and something we have to get better at.” (More on those defensive adjustments later in this story.)

3. AIYUK’S STATUS 

This offseason’s most publicized drama revolves around Brandon Aiyuk’s contract status, and whether the 49ers’ leading receiver will play under his fifth-year option ($14.1 million) or land a multi-year raise, presumably with the 49ers.

While Shanahan prefers removing himself from “sensitive” negotiations, he noted: “I’ve seen Brandon a couple of times. I actually ran into him in Cabo last week. He was randomly at our hotel; I don’t think he wanted to be. He’s doing good. Hopefully we’ll get this done sooner than later.”

Although Aiyuk has vented on social media, Shanahan said that hasn’t interfered with their relationship: “I’ve seen him a couple of times and we’ve been good. I don’t expect it, too. Brandon understands the situation and I know I do. I’m excited to get him back playing for us.”

Shanahan acknowledged that quarterback Brock Purdy’s success is tied to having quality receivers, adding; “It starts there with Brandon. It’s real big for Brock and his future, to make sure we have a good group for him going forward.”

4. PURDY’S PROGRESS

Once the 49ers reconvene April 15, Shanahan is excited for what will be Purdy’s first true offseason program as an entrenched starter, and he’ll have 19 games from last season to further review and improve upon with quarterbacks coach Brian Griese and his assistant, Klay Kubiak. (Mick Lombardi is expected to move into the pass-game specialist role previously held by Klint Kubiak, now the Saints’ coordinator).

“I’m just pumped that Brock gets an offseason,” Shanahan said. “His first year, he didn’t get much of one, just because he was the third quarterback. Last year, he couldn’t throw with us until training camp. This year, he just got married, he’s fully healthy, and he’ll come back in a couple of weeks when we get going. I’m just pumped to go through the film with him and be on the field with him, which he hasn’t had a chance to do yet in his career.”

Brought in as Purdy’s potential backup is Josh Dobbs, who impressed Shanahan by proving tough to beat in Week 4 with the Arizona Cardinals. “I loved how consistent he was,” Shanahan said. “You could tell whatever the game plan was, he executed extremely well. I loved how competitive he was when he ran, how physical he was in breaking tackles. He gave his team a good chance to win.”

5. BRANDON STALEY’S ROLE

Former Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley has joined Shanahan’s staff, though his role remains vague, presumably as the assistant head coach, a title that Shanahan and the 49ers have yet to announce.

“Brandon will be a big part of the game plans, implementing a lot of our defense here in the offseason and during each week,” Shanahan said. “He’s been a big part of free agency, helped us with the draft and he’ll be a huge asset to the whole coaching staff.

“… I know we looked into him for the coordinator role, but I really wanted to stay in-house, and keep it similar to what we’d done in the past with our scheme. Being able to get Brandon on board, it was huge.”

6. D-LINE CHANGES

In come defensive linemen Leonard Floyd, Yetur Gross-Matos, Maliek Collins, Jordan Elliott and perhaps more. “We really wanted to add some guys who had some good health history,” Shanahan said.

Most appealing is Floyd. “He goes all day. We played against him too much. I never liked playing against him,” Shanahan said. “He’s always been such a good player. It was real cool having Brandon on our staff, because he got to coach him in L.A., and just hearing the type of practice player he is, he goes all day, loves playing football, and I’m pumped to have him on our team.”

The most disappointing departure? Arik Armstead, who was released after nine seasons and struck a lucrative deal with Jacksonville.

“It wasn’t something we really wanted to happen. It’s one of the tough things when trying to keep a team together and where it goes with the salary cap,” Shanahan said. “He got in a good spot and real happy where he ended up, but hate to see him go.”

7. O-LINE CONTINUITY

Right guard Jon Feliciano’s return on a one-year deal ensured that the 49ers could field the same starting offensive line as last season. “We’ll always keep look to add and improve through the draft, to get more competition in there,” Shanahan said. “But I’ve been real happy with our group.”

That holds true with right tackle Colton McKivitz, who signed a one-year extension through 2025. “He’s the exact type of guy we want. He’s one of the real leaders on our team,” Shanahan said. “He did a hell of a job playing.”

The other starters: left tackle Trent Williams, left guard Aaron Banks, and, center Jake Brendel. Feliciano overtook Spencer Burford as the starting right guard after adjusting his style. “Once he got out there on the field, the way he was in games on Sundays, the way he reacted in the huddle, the ways guys gravitated to him, you could tell football wasn’t too big for him,” Shanahan said of Feliciano.

8. REMAINING ROSTER HOLES

The reigning NFC champs still have uncertainty at spots that, as the Super Bowl showed, could dictate an outcome.

At nickel back, Deommodore Lenoir could settle in there if Isaac Yiadom proves a reliable right-side cornerback. Ambry Thomas, Sam Womack and Darrell Luter are other options, and more could come from the 49ers’ 10-pick arsenal in next month’s draft.

Return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud left in free agency for Atlanta, opening the door for Ronnie Bell to “compete and get better at it,” said Shanahan, who again alluded to the draft as an avenue for replenishment.

McCloud also saw time as a No. 4 wide receiver, so the 49ers need to add depth there. But Shanahan said it was huge to yield a second-round tender to Jauan Jennings. “He’s only gotten more physical each year,” Shanahan said. “The style of how he plays, how big he is, people sleep on him. They don’t realize how big and physical he is until game day, and it catches a lot of guys off guard.”

9. SAFETY DEPTH

Although veteran safeties are idling in free agency and ex-Colts starter Julian Blackmon recently visited, the 49ers aren’t compelled to bid high for one when a starting spot is not up for grabs with Ji’Ayir Brown coming off his rookie year and Talanoa Hufanga returning from knee reconstruction.

“We’d like to add but I’m also real comfortable with how good Ji’Ayir (Brown) played last year,” Shanahan said. “Everyone knows what Huf’s done. It’s always scary coming back from an ACL, but once you come back in this day and age, it’s usually OK. I expect to get him some time in training camp. Getting back George Odum, he’s probably the best special teams player in the league, and he can also play safety well, too. And we’ll see how it goes in the draft.”

10. DRAFT REVIVAL 

Not only do the 49ers have 10 draft picks but they own a first-round spot for the first time since 2021, when they moved up to the No. 3 overall slot for quarterback Trey Lance and shipped multiple picks to the Miami Dolphins.

“It’ll be more fun,” Shanahan said. “It’s pretty miserable not having a first-round pick, just watching and having nothing to do that first day. We knew we weren’t going to have one the last (two) years, so we didn’t look as much at those top picks. We’ll be prepared for everybody this year. You never know whether we stay where we’re at or if we move around, but at pick No. 31, you have to be ready for anything.”

BONUS ITEM: KICKOFFS

The NFL approved a new kickoff role to “promote more returns” while also perhaps enhancing safety measures by aligning players closer together to reduce collision speeds. The 49ers were among three teams who voted against the rule, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows reported.

“It’s interesting. I don’t think anyone totally knows. When you put guys in different spots, there’s different timing,” Shanahan said. “It’ll be fun to watch. We’ll have to figure it out as we go. That’ll be a fun thing in the league but it will be different each week.”

NFL owners officially voted to ban the ‘hip-drop tackle’ from the sport on Monday, after an annual league meeting in Florida.

The tackle has long been a topic of debate and was cited as the reason behind multiple injuries in the NFL.

According to the NFL, the hip-drop tackle in question involves a swivel technique in which a player “grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms” and “unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping the runner’s leg(s) at or below the knee.”

From next season, the tackle will result in a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down, the league announced.

However, not everyone is happy with the decision.

“Just fast forward to the belts with flags on them,” former three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt said on X, formerly known as Twitter, in response to the news.

Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland also criticized the decision, posting on X: “Breaking news: Tackling Banned.”

CNN has reached out to the NFL for comment about the criticism.

Baltimore Ravens star Mark Andrews was one victim of the tackle last season, suffering a serious ankle injury after being brought down by the controversial technique in November.

Earlier this year, Andrews said he didn’t blame the player who tackled him and would not weigh in on the conversation over whether or not to ban the technique.

“It kind of was just an unfortunate event,” he said. “I’m just going to let everybody else do their thing. If they want to ban the tackle, fine. I’m going to go hard no matter what. I don’t blame the guy. He was just playing hard.”

The league also voted for two other changes during Monday’s meeting, firstly “to protect a club’s ability to challenge a third ruling following one successful challenge” and secondly “to allow for an enforcement of a major foul by the offense prior to a change of possession in a situation where there are fouls by both teams.​”

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Speaking Monday for the first time since their “productive” free agency period opened two weeks ago, Lynch explained to Bay Area reporters how the 49ers should benefit from their latest hires.

One highlight is how multiple defensive linemen were secured under two-year pacts, thus pausing the 49ers’ annual shuffling in which linemen flee as one-year wonders. Even more reinforcements are coming in next month’s NFL Draft, where the 49ers own 10 picks to parlay into young players or better draft slots.

Here is what Lynch likes about nine newcomers, as he relayed Monday at the NFL’s annual owners meetings in Orlando, Florida:

On defensive end Leonard Floyd

Lynch: “Competes at a real high level. Really physical player. Really good at all facets of the game. He just gives us a very consistent guy opposite of (Nick) Bosa, that can make people pay when they have to give all the attention to Nick. He’s also really durable. He plays a ton. And I love the way he chases. He just plays with great effort. To be able to land him was great.”

On defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos

Lynch: “I told his agent he handled it like a house in Los Altos. Priced it low then got the whole league interested. He’s the guy we had the most people in the league saying, ‘Man, we were in on him,’ after we landed him. He’s a long, skilled athlete. We’ve been at our best when we’ve had a guy – Arden Key, Charles Omenihu — who can play outside and slide down inside. It gives you another layer of versatility to your D-line. There’s going to be some transition for him.”

On quarterback Josh Dobbs

Lynch: “We gathered and said let’s get one more option for competition at that No. 2. Dobbs is the guy we settled on. And we had competition for him. But we got him done and we’re excited about that. … To have that belief in Brock (Purdy), to have that stability, then two backups we like and compete for No. 2 … the trend is everyone is keeping three (quarterbacks). It’s nice in the building to have three options. It is nice to focus on the other parts on your roster.”

On linebacker De’Vondre Campbell

Lynch: “That was a blessing, because things fell through with (Eric) Kendricks (who signed with the Cowboys). It was like well we thought we had that, then two or three guys go, and it’s, ‘Man we have an an issue here.’ Green Bay happened to release De’Vondre. He’s a guy we really respected and liked in pass coverage. He’s an excellent player, and has played the run effectively. Kyle was in Atlanta when De’Vondre was there and knew about him from practicing against him. De’Vondre has had a very productive career. It was a blessing he became available and we pounced on that.”

On cornerback Isaac Yiadom

“I thought he had a career year. I asked him, what clicked, because he’s been a productive special teams player, and it’s never happened for him as consistently on defense as it did last year. He talked about something familiar to me in my career, because I didn’t become a full-time starter until Year 3: Stop doubting yourself and let’s go. He was able to find that and have that belief and it really flourished.”

On defensive tackle Maleik Collins

Lynch: “He’s a guy I’ve studied and admired for a long time, because Rod Marinelli, a guy I’m close with, coached him in Dallas. Rod thinks the world of him. Kris (Kocurek, the defensive line coach) obviously has a great voice on anything we do there. We just like the fit and he plays with tremendous effort. Quick. Disruptive. Had a really good year last year. I’m excited to land Maleik.”

On cornerback Chase Lucas, linebacker Ezekiel Turner

Lynch: “Adding another good special teams player to the mix is really critical, so with Chase and Ezekiel we add that. They can play good defense in a pinch, as well.”

On Brandon Staley, who’s expected to be named Assistant Head Coach

Lynch:“Brandon gives us an ability to add layers to who we are without compromising the integrity of who we are. Brandon is an intelligent guy. We scrimmaged against him a couple of years ago, and Kyle and I spent a lot of time talking and appreciating his mind for the game. Having a guy with a head-coach mindset, even in the free agent meetings, he’s real sharp there, being respectful and quiet until asked. It’s a great add for us. That defensive staff is meshing real well.”

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and his wife Jenna were courtside at Maples Pavilion Sunday to watch the No. 2 ranked Stanford women’s basketball team take on Iowa State – sporting Stanford opponent’s Cardinal red and gold colors.

Vibes are HIGH with QB1 in the house

pic.twitter.com/5vn3yhwlVb

— Cyclone Basketball (@CycloneWBB) March 25, 2024

The Purdys’ cheered on their alma mater, where they met as students. Newlyweds, the couple recently tied the knot in Des Moines on March 9.

Stanford defeated the Cyclones 87-81 in OT in thrilling fashion. But at one point the Iowa State band tried to rally the team chanting, “Pass it to Purdy! Pass it to Purdy,” pointing to the 49ers star.

Brock Purdy has arrived for tonight’s 9:00 p.m. tip against Stanford.

Cyclones trying to make a sweet sixteen for the 7th time.

( – @TommyBirch) pic.twitter.com/E0z8rrPQAW

— 𝙄𝙤𝙬𝙖 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 (@IowaStateNation) March 25, 2024

Another celeb at the game who was clearing rooting for the Cardinal was Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State and former Stanford Provost.

General manager John Lynch, speaking at the NFL owners’ meeting in Orlando, Fla., disputed reports that the 49ers are discussing any potential trade of Aiyuk.

“We’re actively talking to Brandon and trying to figure something out,” Lynch told Bay Area media, in an interview posted by The Athletic. “We have a good history of working with the guys we want to get done, to get something done. It takes two sides. So can we do that? We’ll see.”

Aiyuk, after posting a second straight season of over 1,000 receiving yards, is slated to make $14.1 million this year under the fifth-year option that closes out his rookie contract. Lynch said the 49ers are OK with Aiyuk playing at that salary.

Aiyuk, however, is seeking greater financial security and a multi-year contract that aligns with other receivers atop the NFL’s pay grade, at about $25 million annually.

Not long after Lynch spoke, Aiyuk used emojis on an Instagram story that essentially translated to: “Money talks, B.S. walks.”

Lynch acknowledged that contract talks would be difficult but the 49ers have overcome similar plights in past years en route to extending homegrown players, such as George Kittle, Fred Warner, Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa.

“Are the trials in those things? Sometimes there are,” Lynch said. “But ultimately that’s all forgotten when you get something done, and I hope that’s the case here.”

Rumors swirled last week that the Pittsburgh Steelers could be vying for Aiyuk, who addressed a social-media post to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin if he thought they looked like twins.

Lynch scuttled that potential trade, saying: “I was just with Mike Tomlin at the Michigan pro day and Mike coached me (at the Tampa Bay Bucs), so we’re very close. He’s like, ‘Bro, what’s going on?’ I promise you, we’ve got nothing, and nothing is going on there.”

Mike Tomlin on if he looks like Brandon Aiyuk:

"I've heard a lot of that recently."

— Alan Saunders (@ASaunders_PGH) March 25, 2024

“There is a number of different directions it could go,” Lynch added. “But we appreciate the heck out of Brandon and who he is as a player. We want him to be a part of the Niners, so we’re going to work towards making that a reality.”

CHAMPIONSHIP CHATTER

Chiefs coach Andy Reid, six weeks after beating the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, believes coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Brock Purdy make up a “deadly” combination that is destined for more success. That said, Reid’s Chiefs will try to become the first team to win the Super Bowl in three straight seasons.

“A lot of respect for Brock,” Reid told reporters, according to The Athletic. “He does a nice job. I don’t really care where he got picked; that doesn’t matter to me.

“He’s just a good player, he sees the field, he’s got good accuracy, great timing with his receivers, and he’s calm. You feel like he’s got everything kind of under control.”

Reid also praised Shanahan as “a smart guy and a heck of a football coach,” adding that their Super Bowl encounters in the 2019 and ’23 seasons “could have gone either way. It was just a toss-up. … So you just keep plugging, just keep doing what you’re doing, and somewhere you pop over the hill there. I know he’s got a great young quarterback, and him with a great young quarterback is deadly.”

Shanahan, in a Sunday interview with NFL Network, also endorsed Purdy’s potential and the potential benefits of this upcoming offseason work.

“Brock’s gone through a lot in two years in these games, so that’s been great for him. But the way you get better is doing it over and over in practice and just drilling it. It’s all about getting those 10,000 reps,” Shanahan told NFL Media’s Steve Wyche. “He spent it all last year knowing what he had to do, but he was just focusing (on getting) his arm healthy. Now he can go into this offseason knowing what he has to do but training his footwork, training his arm, training his mind. Just getting in the reps.”

Reid noted that the 49ers were “potentially” among the teams who tried to hire away defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for a similar role.

HEALTH UPDATES

Tight end George Kittle and cornerback Charvarius Ward underwent core-muscle surgery and should be fully healthy by training camp, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco reported. Both Kittle and Ward earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

“I’ve had that surgery myself when I was playing and it’s pretty a high success rate of healing and it feels a lot better once it’s done,” Lynch said. “It hurts constantly having that core tugging at you.”

Linebacker Dre Greenlaw is aiming to play in the season opener if all goes well in his recovery from an Achilles tear in the Super Bowl; Greenlaw could start training camp on the Physically Unable To Perform list and, if he remains on it in Week 1, he’d have to miss at least the first four games.

“De’Vondre (Campbell) gives us a guy who plays the way we play, a guy who has a ton of experience that can fill in for Dre if he’s not there,” Lynch said. “Then we have three guys who’ve played at a high level once Dre is back.”

ACCOUNTING PENALTY

Docked a 2025 fifth-round draft pick last week for an accounting error, Lynch said the 49ers mistakingly paid $75,000 extra to an unspecified player and unsuccessfully tried to recoup it rather than initially reporting their gaffe to the league prior to 2023, Maiocco reported.

ARMSTEAD EXIT

The 49ers granted defensive tackle Arik Armstead his release this month so he could test the market rather than get traded to the Houston Texans, subject to working out a new contract with them.

“Ultimately he wanted to see his value and good for him. It was robust with what he got in Jacksonville,” Lynch said. “He bet on himself and good for Arik. … Arik’s done so much for our team. He’s such a fabric of who we are, the work he does in the community. The opportunity to be on the 10-year wall was important to me and organization and Arik.”

Such a move is meant to “ensure the 49ers stay in the York family for generations to come,” according to a team source.

Fellow NFL owners are expected to vote on that switch today in Orlando, Florida, the site of the league’s annual owners’ meeting, according to Sports Business Journal’s Ben Fischer, who was first to report that York had bought some of his mother’s equity in the franchise.

Denise DeBartolo York, along with her husband, Dr. John York, took over control of the 49ers in 2000 from her brother, Eddie DeBartolo, a Pro Football Hall of Famer under whom the franchise won the Lombardi Trophy five times. Their father, Edward J. DeBartolo, bought the 49ers in 1977 from the Morabito family, which founded the franchise in 1946.

Jed York, 43, has spent nearly 20 years working amid the 49ers’ hierarchy, taking on the CEO role in 2010. Three Super Bowl trips have followed, including last season’s under coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, who both had their contracts extended prior to the season.

“Our team speaks for itself,” Jed York said on Feb. 1, after the 49ers clinched their Super Bowl LVIII berth. “When you hear from me, it’s generally not good. It’s during a coaching change. It’s during an off-field incident that needs ownership commenting. My goal is to build an organization that speaks for itself. We have two great leaders in this organization. We have unbelievable people all around. I would much rather have this organization speak for itself than have me speak for it.”

Denise DeBartolo York, who’s believed to be in her mid-70s, attended the 49ers’ NFC Championship win and has preferred a low-key profile during her tenure. Dr. John York has been a constant presence at games and occasionally at practices over the past two decades, though it has been Jed York who has spoken on behalf of ownership for nearly a decade.

Jed York is the oldest of four siblings. Twin sisters Jenna and Mara lead the 49ers Foundation charity wing. Younger brother Tony passed away in 2018 at age 35. Jed York and his wife, Danielle, have two sons, Jaxon and Brixton.

After a contentious ownership transfer following Eddie DeBartolo’s legal issues, Denise DeBartolo York became one of the NFL’s first female owners. Others currently recognized as primary or co-owners in the NFL are: Kim Pegula (Buffalo Bills), Virginia Halas McCaskey (Chicago Bears), Dee Haslam (Cleveland Browns), Sheila Ford Hamp (Detroit Lions), Janice McNair (Houston Texans), Carol Davis (Raiders), Gayle Benson (New Orleans Saints), Jody Allen (Seattle Seahawks), and Amy Adams Strunk (Tennessee Titans). The Houston Texans are also expected to request a transfer of primary ownership, from Janice McNair to her son, Cal, according to ESPN.

NFL owners have approved these rule changes: a hip-drop tackle is now banned; coaches will get a third replay challenge after a successful challenge; and, enforcement of a major foul by the offense prior to the change of possession when fouls are flagged on both teams.