The moment that caused goosebumps…
SANTA CLARA — It wasn’t any big thriller whether or not or not DeForest Buckner would play, or start, in the 49ers’ first sport since (re-)buying the disruptive defensive deal with.
But they sure held the suspense.
In yet another signal of the extent of respect Buckner immediately instructions in the 49ers’ locker room, his was the eleventh and ultimate title announced among the defensive starters Sunday.
And in a fairly good inform of Buckner’s instant recognition with the 49ers’ fanbase, he acquired a louder roar than anyone else before their eventual 38-17 beatdown of the rival Raiders.
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (99) is launched before an NFL soccer sport against the Las Vegas Raiders in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox
Louder than Fred Warner, who ceded his place as the standard pregame headliner.
Louder than Nick Bosa, whose title was called for the first time since Week 2.
“I had goosebumps,” tight end George Kittle said. “I think everybody had goosebumps that played with Buck, all the guys who are still here from 2019.”
The last time Buckner’s title was announced over the Levi’s Stadium loudspeakers was Jan. 19, 2020, before the NFC Championship Game, on the Niners’ method to Super Bowl 54.
“I definitely felt the love,” Buckner said, “and in that moment, I was like, ‘Man, I’m home.’”
Ahead of his first sport in nearly seven years in a Niners uniform — the same outdated No. 99 — Buckner said that he “definitely had some goosebumps.” He more or less requested to be traded to San Francisco, which despatched a fourth-round decide to the Colts in return to reunite with the 32-year-old three-time Pro Bowler initially drafted by the workforce in 2016.
Even with Bosa and Buckner back together, the 49ers went a second straight week without recording a sack, only knocking down Kirk Cousins on six of his 32 dropbacks.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes as San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (99) pressures him, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox
“At the end of the year, it’s how many sacks you have, and we think about that — don’t get me wrong,” Bosa said. “But we made some big rushes in some big moments, a goal line stand. We did a lot of good stuff, so sacks will come. Kirk definitely doesn’t want to hold on to [the football] too long. He was cringing a little bit back there.”
It wasn’t fairly a re-coronation of the 2019 line of defense that the 49ers rode all the best way to the Super Bowl. But on the entire, it will be arduous to argue it wasn’t a Super Bowl-worthy exhibiting.
The pair of former All-Pros mixed for just two tackles, but the fellows behind them took the ball away 5 occasions in the second half. As a workforce, San Francisco held the Raiders — and Ashton Jeanty — to an average of 1.4 yards on 16 carries. Bosa also impressively snuffed out a screen go for a 4-yard loss, and Buckner twice got here split-seconds away from sacking Cousins.
Michael Mayer (87) of the Las Vegas Raiders is tackled by Nick Bosa (97) of the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. Getty Images
“I’ve got to go back and watch the film to really see just how big of an impact they had,” said Warner, who compelled one fumble and recovered the other. “But, I mean, you can’t not be happy with the fact that we have both of them out on the field for us going forward.”
Buckner might just be the savior the 49ers didn’t even know they needed at the time of the commerce after fellow defensive deal with Gracen Halton was carted off in the ultimate minutes of the win. The standout rookie is predicted to miss the remainder of the season with a damaged ankle.
Gracen Halton #93 of the San Francisco 49ers is carted off the sector after an ankle injury against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara. Getty Images
“That was a cool thing about getting Buckner,” Shanahan said. “Some of these guys that we’ve been dependent on, like Gracen, just gave us a lot more depth. Yes, it sucked to lose one today, big time, but we still have good depth there.”
Halton had carved out an important function, on the sector for 45% of the 49ers’ defensive snaps getting into Week 9, but Buckner was already anticipated to take on many of those duties.
While common supervisor John Lynch has until 1 p.m. Tuesday to make any extra strikes, he form of beat this one to the punch. Nevertheless, the season-ending blow to a promising younger participant amounted to a critical case of emotional whiplash in a romp that began on a high notice.
Las Vegas Raiders working back Ashton Jeanty (2) runs against San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (99) on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. AP Photo/Justine Willard
Buckner thanked Warner for giving him the possibility to go last in introductions. But according to Kittle, Warner may not be the only one deserving of the credit.
“Someone might say that was my idea,” Kittle smiled. “I went over Fred’s head.”
Whatever the case could also be, this a lot is assured: Everybody’s overjoyed to have Buckner back.
“Just what he meant to us as a teammate, what he meant to us as a friend,” Kittle said, “to get him back and he’s still playing at an incredibly high level and the whole stadium just erupting, that just means the world to me.”
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