Veteran Receivers Lead 49ers to 4-0 Start, Setting NFL Record for 30-plus Touchdowns
San Francisco's offense, anchored by multiple players over age 30, has recorded 11 receiving touchdowns in the first four games of the 2026 season, the most in NFL history.
San Francisco has begun the 2026 NFL season with a 4-0 record, relying heavily on veteran skill-position players. The team secured a 24-14 victory over Denver, with Deebo Samuel catching his third touchdown of the season, a goal-line run by Christian McCaffrey and a 56-yard screen catch-and-run by George Kittle.
According to CBS Sports analyst Doug Clawson, the 49ers have amassed 11 receiving touchdowns scored by players aged 30 or older, the highest total through four games in league history. Kittle contributed four of those scores, while Mike Evans added two and Samuel three; Demarcus Robinson and Kyle Juszczyk each recorded one.
The roster remains affected by injuries to younger receivers De’Zhaun Stribling and Ricky Pearsall, who are expected to miss significant time. Nonetheless, the veteran pass-catchers have been pivotal in the team's early success as it prepares for a Week 5 matchup against Seattle.