Le Journal

The San Francisco 49ers packed up their belongings and headed home as work was being done around their home venue to get Levi’s Stadium ready to host the Super Bowl next month. A season that featured many bright spots as the Niners overcame a string of injuries to star players to reach the divisional round ended in disappointment when San Francisco lost 41-6 to Seattle on Saturday night just two games shy of a home Super Bowl appearance. “It hurt,” cornerback Deommodore Lenoir said about seeing the Super Bowl signs outside the stadium as he arrived Monday. “Because this whole season I was telling myself, if we hosted the Super Bowl, we have to be there. So it hurts.” But the overriding emotion for the 49ers echoed the message that coach Kyle Shanahan gave the team in the losing locker room in Seattle about being proud of how much they overcame this season to go 12-5 in the regular season and beat Philadelphia in the wild-card round. The Niners played eight games without starting quarterback Brock Purdy, lost star defensive end Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner to season-ending injuries early in the season, played significant time without receiver Ricky Pearsall and lost Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle to an Achilles tendon injury in the win over the Eagles. “I really do think it was a special year,” Purdy said. “Given the circumstances that we were put in and dealt with and guys going down. You see across the league that sometimes teams don’t really have what it takes to have these kind of circumstances and then push forward and make it to the playoffs and have a chance to be the one seed at the end of the year. All the things that we were able to accomplish, a lot of teams would have thrown in the towel.” George Kittle 7 hours ago 49ers' George Kittle shares encouraging update after successful Achilles surgery Brock Purdy Jan 18 Why Brock Purdy still believes 49ers can win Super Bowl after season-ending loss 49ers Reaction Jan 18 Kyle Shanahan, John Lynch proud of 49ers' unwavering character throughout season Health report Kittle gave an encouraging update on his health, saying that doctors told him his injury was a “best-case scenario” and should have a shorter recovery time than some Achilles tendon injuries. Kittle wouldn’t put a timeline on when he would be ready to play. Warner said he would have been able to get back on the field from his broken ankle had the Niners made it to the NFC title game. Now he will dial back his rehabilitation a bit to start preparing for next season. Purdy said he won’t need any surgery on the injured toe that sidelined him for half of the season. McCaffrey’s workload In a season filled with injuries, one player remained surprisingly healthy with All-Pro Christian McCaffrey playing all 19 games and leading all running backs with 1,010 offensive snaps in the regular season and playoffs, to go along with 450 touches for 2,314 yards at age 29. Keeping McCaffrey healthy again next season will be a big key to success for the 49ers as he is a major part of the offense. The other two times McCaffrey had such a heavy workload in one season he dealt with injuries the next, playing only three games in 2020 and four in 2024. “I think this was one of the most impressive seasons by an individual player ever,” Shanahan said. “The dude was unbelievable. His dedication to really empty the tank every single game and to be able to do that many games in a row is something that I’ve never really seen before.” Coordinator moves The return of Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator this season helped the Niners survive the rash of injuries on defense and remain competitive. Now there’s a question about whether Saleh will be back next season or if San Francisco will need a fifth defensive coordinator in five seasons. Saleh is a candidate for several open head coaching jobs and could be on the move. Offense coordinator Klay Kubiak also is a candidate to be a head coach…

A San Francisco man died while working at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday evening, officials said. His death is being investigated as an accident. The worker was identified Monday as 28-year-old John Lacayanga by the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office. At the time of his death, Lacayanga was working for the Dubai National Air Travel Agency, also called “dnata,” which describes itself as “an Emirati airport services provider” that offers aircraft ground handling, cargo, travel and flight catering services around the globe. At about 7 p.m. Sunday, the San Francisco Fire Department responded to the vehicle service road between Terminal 3 and the International Terminal Boarding Area G for a report of a solo vehicle accident and found Lacayanga under a cargo pallet he was apparently towing, according to airport officials. No other vehicles were involved. Representatives of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health were onsite and conducted interviews with the man’s employer. An SFO spokesperson forwarded a statement from the company saying it is working “with the relevant authorities to understand the circumstances of the incident” and is providing support to Lacayanga’s family. “We are deeply saddened to confirm that a dnata team member passed away whilst on duty at San Francisco International Airport on 18 January,” according to the statement. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to their family, friends and colleagues.” A sheriff’s office spokesperson said deputies responded to the initial call and then turned the case over to the coroner’s office.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) issued a rare S4 solar radiation storm on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, which is the first solar radiation storm rated at 4 (out of 5) since October 2003. This is combined with G4 level severe geomagnetic storm (G4) conditions as high energy particles reached the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Short term radio communication blackouts were observed ahead of what could be the most intense display of aurora borealis across the northern United States since November of last year. An S4 severe solar radiation storm is now in progress – this is the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years. The last time S4 levels were observed was in October, 2003. Potential effects are mainly limited to space launch, aviation, and satellite operations. pic.twitter.com/kCjHj4XYzB— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) January 19, 2026 You may recall the views we had around the Bay Area also in May 2024, where many were able to get photos or time-lapse videos of aurora borealis on their cameras and smartphones using three seconds to 10-second time exposure settings. The vibrant colors are caused by upper atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen molecules reacting to the high energy solar particles, acting a bit like a neon tube. Astronomy Oct 9, 2024 Northern Lights forecast: Aurora borealis may be seen in parts of Bay Area San Diego County May 11, 2024 Northern lights, aurora borealis seen from San Diego County mountains On Monday, SWPC forecasters were expecting the peak of the current solar storm dayside Monday into early Tuesday morning timeframe. Aurora viewing for this most recent event has been vibrant across Europe and may continue to stay active into Monday night locally with aurora displays possible across Northern California to sunrise Tuesday morning. G4 (Severe) storm conditions first reached at 1938 UTC (2:38pm EST) upon CME shock arrival. Please continue to visit https://t.co/TV7Yw6Lq1Y for the latest information and updates. pic.twitter.com/rXtthPmP9C— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) January 19, 2026 G4 Watch in effect for 20 Jan UTC-day (late 19 Jan EST to early 20 Jan EST) due to anticipated CME arrival at Earth. We will make a video update later this afternoon about this activity. Look for the latest info & updates by staying space weather aware at https://t.co/kwJj9rIpub pic.twitter.com/KYqgsN9oIt— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) January 19, 2026 The first S4 solar radiation storm since October 2003 is impacting the Earth as of midday Monday January 19th, 2026. For the first time since last November, Aurora viewing opportunities will be possible into the Bay Area tonight. @nbcbayarea 1/19/2026 pic.twitter.com/J27kOLZrDr— Rob Mayeda (@RobMayeda) January 19, 2026 NBC Bay Area’s Rob Mayeda shares viewing tips and some of the science behind what makes the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, visible in our skies in the video above.

A group of young people on bikes battered and robbed a man in San Francisco Saturday afternoon after he tried to tell them to slow down, police said. The battery and robbery happened just before 3 p.m. along the 900 block of Beach Street near Aquatic Cove, according to police. Citing a preliminary investigation, police said the man attempted to tell multiple juveniles on bicycles to reduce their speed. One of the juveniles responded by battering the man, sparking a verbal confrontation between the victim and the juveniles, police said. The altercation escalated when more juveniles battered the victim as he tried to flee. The juveniles chased after the man and continued to batter him as he tried to get away, police said. One juvenile stole the victim’s property in the process, prompting the victim to try to get it back. Bystanders confronted the juveniles, causing them to take off but leave the man’s property behind, police said. The man suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. Police didn’t immediately say how many juveniles were involved or how old they are. No arrests had been made as of Monday. An investigation is underway. Anyone with information is urged to call San Francisco police at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and start the message with SFPD.