Kevin John believes NFC West is ‘completely up for grabs’

ABC10’s Kevin John joined Sactown Sports to talk 49ers, the early NFC West picture, George Kittle’s return and why Seattle looked vulnerable.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Sep 10, 2026, 12:19 PM Updated: 12:21 pm

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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 03: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers shakes hand with S...

Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers shakes hand with Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks following a game at Levi's Stadium on January 03, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers 13-3. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

What are the 49ers’ chances of winning the NFC West in the 2026 NFL Season? ABC10 sports reporter Kevin John shared his thoughts on what’s often viewed as the best division in football during a conversation with The Matt & Kayla Show.

After watching the Seahawks open the season with a close win over the Patriots in the season debut and Super Bowl rematch, he came away believing the division could be more open than expected.

“If I am a diehard Niners fan, Rams fan, Cardinals fan, even though the Cardinals aren’t going to be in the running in the NFC West, I’m looking at this game like, man, Seattle showed a lot of vulnerabilities, especially for being the defending Super Bowl champion,” John said.

Seattle’s defense still stood out, but the overall performance didn’t look like a dominant team to beat, given their Super Bowl title. The Seahawks walked away with a win, but it was a close-fought, low-scoring battle for most of the night. John believes the 49ers and Rams should feel encouraged by their lack of offensive production, albeit starting quarterback Sam Darnold went down early. Seattle may still have one of the better defenses in football, but if the offense leaves the door open, the division becomes much more manageable.

“Their defense is still legit, and that’s something you can’t downplay,” John said. “But if I’m the 49ers or Rams looking at the Seahawks, I’m looking like, man, as long as we put up 20 points on this team, we’ve got an opportunity… the NFC West is completely up for grabs.”

For the 49ers, that belief relies heavily on health. San Francisco has dealt with injuries throughout last season and more into camp, but the returns of George Kittle, Nick Bosa, and Fred Warner are encouraging for their odds.

John discussed the significance of Kittle’s return, what he brings on the field, and the work it takes to come back from a major injury. But beyond that, Kittle’s presence also matters because of the energy and personality he brings to the team.

“I don’t know if there’s anybody on the 49ers roster who loves football more than George Kittle,” John said. “This is somebody who just lives, breathes, talks about football wherever you see him.”

Bosa’s return gives San Francisco another much needed defensive piece for a team that needs to be better at applying pressure to opposing decision-makers if they want a real shot at making it out of the NFC West.

“This man doesn’t need to be 100 percent,” John said. “If you give me 80 percent Bosa, that’s still better than 90 percent of the league.”

The Australia trip adds another unusual layer to the season’s start, with head coaches Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay taking different approaches to travel. John noted that Shanahan got the 49ers out early after consulting with doctors and sleep experts, while the Rams took a much later travel plan.

While that conversation has dominated the last week in anticipation of the opener, it may be as simple as: who’s the better team?

“At the end of the day, it’s still football,” John said. “You still have to go out there, execute a game plan, and go against one of the best teams in your division.”

The Seahawks may still be dangerous, the Rams remain a major threat, and the 49ers are trying to prove they still belong in contention. If San Francisco can get their core players back to form and find enough offense to support a defense led by Warner and Bosa, John sees no reason they should view the NFC West as out of reach.

“I want this test right out of the gate,” John said. “That’s a good barometer of where they can be throughout the season.”

Listen to The Matt & Kayla Show from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

Full episodes of Sactown Sports’ The Matt & Kayla Show.

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers 2026 Schedule

Thursday, September 10th – vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia (Season Opener) – 5:35 pm PT
Sunday, September 20th – vs. Miami Dolphins – 1:25 pm PT
Sunday, September 27th – vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:05 pm PT
Sunday, October 4th – vs. Denver Broncos – 1:25 pm PT
Sunday, October 11th – @ Seattle Seahawks – 1:25 pm PT

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