The San Francisco 49ers will debut new all-black "Rivalries" alternate uniforms Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks as the team pursues the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The 49ers, currently 12-4, enter the Week 18 regular-season finale with an opportunity to clinch home-field advantage.
Tight end George Kittle, who served as a consultant on the uniform design, expressed enthusiasm for the look during a locker room interview near punter Thomas Morstead’s stall.
George Kittle’s dark knight 49ers
On Thursday, Kittle told reporters:
“The helmets are sick. I can't wait to wear 'em. Um, they're beautiful. And it'll just kind of be fun to wear something new,” he said.
The ensemble features midnight black shells with red stripes, gold-coated facemasks, and Saloon-style numbering honoring the team's 1994 Super Bowl era.
“I haven't worn all black since my rookie season,” he said via 49ers.com. “But we never had black helmets, and so I'm the most excited about this bad boy (the helmet). Holy cow, we are going to look cool."
"I feel violent when we wear all black. Like we're just standing on business. All ten toes," he added.
Quarterback Brock Purdy described the uniforms as "slick," and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir predicted the crowd would "go crazy."
"I think all black is just going to look so slick," Purdy said, via 49ers.com.
"This is all everybody has been asking about,” Lenoir said. “I know the crowd is going to go crazy."
MORE: 49ers' Christian McCaffrey gets positive injury update after late Week 17 setback
According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, the NFL denied a request for a mid-season change in 2024, forcing the team to plan the debut a year in advance.
“We weren't allowed to do it," Shanahan said via David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone, October 2024. "You had to (request) it before the season started.
This is the franchise's first new alternate design since the 2015–2017 period and is part of a permanent three-year rotation.
Kittle's ankle injury
Despite an ankle injury limiting his practice participation, Kittle asserted he is "absolutely” playing. On his current status, per 49ers Webzone, Kittle said:
“Great position for Saturday night to punch a one seed. So just with that, I’m doing fantastic.”
Conversely, left tackle Trent Williams (hamstring) is listed as questionable after missing practice all week; Austen Pleasants is prepared to start if Williams is unavailable.
“We’ll see,” Williams said Friday, per KDH News.
Analyst David Lombardi wrote on X:
“If it’s Austen Pleasants over Trent Williams, the 49ers actually get bigger at LT. Good perspective here on Pleasants’ 6-7, 330-pound frame.”
Christian McCaffrey (back) has no injury designation, while Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) is questionable.
The 49ers coach Shanahan also stressed the importance of player availability against Seattle.
"We're going against a great defense, a great team. So, it's definitely huge to have everyone on board who is capable of it," Shanahan said.
The 49ers' roster planning
Purdy recently signed a five-year, $265 million extension ($53 million AAV) but carries a lower 2025 cap hit of $9,128,073. McCaffrey’s 2025 hit is $8,369,119 following a two-year extension. Williams holds the team’s highest 2025 cap hit at $21,141,955.
Reportedly, if the 49ers need to clear space for Purdy’s rising cap hit - which jumps to $24.8 million in 2026 - Williams could be a trade target for tackle-needy teams like the Washington Commanders or Cincinnati Bengals. The team remained mostly quiet at the recent trade deadline, acquiring only defensive lineman Keion White from the Patriots.
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49ers John Lynch reveals huge George Kittle update for Week 18 vs. Seahawks
Kyle Shanahan, Mike Macdonald renew high-stakes coaching chess match