Santa Clara, CA – November 2, 2025
What was supposed to be a statement win turned into a heartbreaking night for San Francisco. The 49ers rolled past the New York Giants in Week 9, but celebration quickly gave way to concern when one of their most promising young defenders went down and never returned.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan called the injury “gut-wrenching” in his postgame press conference, his tone somber even after the victory. The team had feared the worst — and by Monday morning, those fears were confirmed.
Mykel Williams injured on this play but walks off under his own power 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Sv7hXEOY1P
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) November 2, 2025
Rookie defensive end Mykel Williams has suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and will miss the remainder of the season. The injury occurred midway through the second quarter as Williams chased Giants quarterback Daniel Jones from behind. His leg twisted awkwardly as he planted to change direction, and he immediately fell to the turf clutching his knee in visible pain.
Trainers surrounded him within seconds, and the Levi’s Stadium crowd fell silent as Williams was carted off the field. Teammates, including Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, walked alongside him — a gesture that said everything about the respect the rookie had already earned in his short time with the team.
Williams, the 23rd overall pick out of Georgia, had quickly become one of the breakout players of San Francisco’s defense. With 4.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss through eight games, he was redefining what it meant to be a rookie in a championship-caliber system. His combination of power and quickness had drawn comparisons to some of the league’s elite edge rushers.
Shanahan spoke with pride and heartbreak when addressing the loss. “It’s brutal. The kid gives you everything — effort, heart, energy. He’s the kind of player you build around,” he said. “But knowing him, this will only fuel his comeback.”
The 49ers are expected to rely on Clelin Ferrell and Drake Jackson to fill the void, though no one can truly replicate Williams’ burst or leadership. The locker room, still riding high from a big win, now finds itself rallying behind a fallen teammate.
In a season built on grit and belief, the 49ers now face their biggest emotional test yet — proving that their unity is as strong as their talent.
