It looked like a sure thing for months, didn’t it? Veteran pass rusher Kyle Van Noy was practically wearing a 49ers jersey already. Instead, in a move that completely shakes up their early season defensive plans, the 12-year veteran is officially headed to the Minnesota Vikings, reuniting with defensive coordinator Brian Flores. The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero broke the news, closing the book on all that San Francisco speculation and leaving a big question mark hanging over the 49ers’ D-line.
The Van Noy Saga Ends, But Not How Expected
Remember back in May when Van Noy himself told FanDuel TV’s Kay Adams he’d “really like to play” alongside fellow BYU alum Fred Warner? He even said San Francisco had “something cooking.” It felt like a perfect fit, especially when Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox later in July called the 49ers the best landing spot for Van Noy among top defensive free agents. Knox even pointed to San Francisco’s thin edge depth as a major concern for a team hoping to be a playoff contender. This wasn’t some quiet interest, it was loud, public, and seemed like a done deal for weeks. Now, poof, he’s gone to the Vikings. You just gotta wonder what happened behind the scenes.
49ers’ Pass Rush Woes Are Already a Nightmare
And let’s be real, that depth concern for the 49ers hasn’t suddenly vanished. It’s actually looking worse now. Last season, in 2025, San Francisco finished dead last in the NFL with just 20 sacks and was 31st in pressures with only 157. That’s rough, man. Now, their top two edge rushers are both working their way back from torn ACLs. Nick Bosa avoided the physically unable to perform list to start camp and has been doing individual and side work, but he wasn’t a full participant in team or one-on-one drills as of last week. Worse, their 2025 first-round pick, Mykel Williams, who tore his ACL in Week 9 last season, is on reserve/PUP and will miss at least the first four games. They brought in some new blood with third-round pick Romello Height, traded for interior lineman Osa Odighizuwa, and drafted Gracen Halton, and all three are expected to contribute. But with Bosa and Williams both sidelined to open the year, that’s a massive load on those rookies and new guys.
The Missed Opportunity That Hurts
Okay, so Van Noy, at 35, wasn’t a guaranteed fix. He played only 50% of Baltimore’s defensive snaps in 2025, his lowest share since 2015, and only recorded two sacks after a career-best 12.5 the year before. So yeah, maybe not peak Van Noy. But when you are struggling as much as the 49ers are right now with their pass rush, a veteran with 57 career sacks and that personal relationship with Warner is a serious, serious missed opportunity. The preseason and early September will be a true proving ground for the rest of San Francisco’s front to step up. This is a critical moment for them to show what they’re made of, because without a consistent pass rush, it’s going to be a long season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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