Vic Tafur
@victafur.bsky.social
Senior Writer @TheAthletic.
Cover 49ers & NFL. The Fade King of NFL picks. Boxing guy.
“I walk the earth, meet people, get in adventures, like Caine in Kung Fu”
Cover 49ers & NFL. The Fade King of NFL picks. Boxing guy.
“I walk the earth, meet people, get in adventures, like Caine in Kung Fu”
Patriots’ Robert Spillane and K’Lavon Chaisson hit jackpot after leaving Las Vegas ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...
Patriots' Robert Spillane and K'Lavon Chaisson hit jackpot after leaving Las Vegas
www.nytimes.com
February 4, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Patriots’ Robert Spillane and K’Lavon Chaisson hit jackpot after leaving Las Vegas ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/702...
The Eagles let Milton Williams go to the Patriots. He’s back in the Super Bowl anyway ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
The Eagles let Milton Williams go to the Patriots. He's in the Super Bowl anyway
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:49 PM
The Eagles let Milton Williams go to the Patriots. He’s back in the Super Bowl anyway ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...
49ers hiring Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
49ers hiring Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator: Sources
Morris will be the 49ers' fifth defensive coordinator in as many seasons, after Robert Saleh left to become the Titans' head coach.
www.nytimes.com
February 1, 2026 at 8:04 PM
49ers hiring Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...
Kyle Pitts and Maxx Crosby are interesting targets …
49ers face closing Super Bowl window with aging core and $50.3M in cap space ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
49ers face closing Super Bowl window with aging core and $50.3M in cap space
The 49ers clearly have to get bigger, stronger and faster, and they have plenty of money for someone such as Kyle Pitts or Trey Hendrickson.
www.nytimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Kyle Pitts and Maxx Crosby are interesting targets …
49ers face closing Super Bowl window with aging core and $50.3M in cap space ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
49ers face closing Super Bowl window with aging core and $50.3M in cap space
The 49ers clearly have to get bigger, stronger and faster, and they have plenty of money for someone such as Kyle Pitts or Trey Hendrickson.
www.nytimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 3:27 PM
49ers face closing Super Bowl window with aging core and $50.3M in cap space ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
John Brodie, longtime 49ers quarterback and 1970 NFL MVP, dies at 90 ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
John Brodie, longtime 49ers quarterback and 1970 NFL MVP, dies at 90
Brodie was selected third in the 1957 NFL Draft and played a then-franchise-best 201 games, solidifying his place in 49ers history.
www.nytimes.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:49 AM
John Brodie, longtime 49ers quarterback and 1970 NFL MVP, dies at 90 ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
Reposted by Vic Tafur
NFL conference championship picks against the spread: Broncos overlooked without Bo Nix? ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
Vic's Picks, conference championships: Are the Broncos overlooked without Bo Nix?
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:00 PM
NFL conference championship picks against the spread: Broncos overlooked without Bo Nix? ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
NFL conference championship picks against the spread: Broncos overlooked without Bo Nix? ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
Vic's Picks, conference championships: Are the Broncos overlooked without Bo Nix?
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:00 PM
NFL conference championship picks against the spread: Broncos overlooked without Bo Nix? ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
Reposted by Vic Tafur
Brandon Aiyuk’s exit spotlights problem at receiver: 49ers had no speed in 2025 …
www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
Brandon Aiyuk is gone. What’s next for the 49ers at wide receiver? How about some speed?
Meanwhile, Kyle Shanahan said Gus Bradley is the top internal candidate to replace Robert Saleh at defensive coordinator.
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Brandon Aiyuk’s exit spotlights problem at receiver: 49ers had no speed in 2025 …
www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
Could the 49ers trade Mac Jones? ‘I’d be very surprised,’ Kyle Shanahan says ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
Kyle Shanahan on possibility of Mac Jones trade: 'I'd be very surprised'
www.nytimes.com
January 21, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Could the 49ers trade Mac Jones? ‘I’d be very surprised,’ Kyle Shanahan says ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
Who will be the 49ers’ fifth defensive coordinator in 5 years? Here’s the list ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
Who will be the 49ers' fifth defensive coordinator in 5 years? Here's the list
www.nytimes.com
January 21, 2026 at 1:58 AM
Who will be the 49ers’ fifth defensive coordinator in 5 years? Here’s the list ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
49ers defenders hope Robert Saleh returns, vow to learn from loss to Seahawks ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
January 19, 2026 at 8:32 PM
49ers defenders hope Robert Saleh returns, vow to learn from loss to Seahawks ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
Reposted by Vic Tafur
For a drained Christian McCaffrey, ‘emotional roller coaster’ comes to a painful end ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
January 18, 2026 at 2:02 PM
For a drained Christian McCaffrey, ‘emotional roller coaster’ comes to a painful end ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
Reposted by Vic Tafur
49ers’ improbable season ends with defiance, pride — despite another thumping from Seahawks…
www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
49ers’ improbable season ends with defiance, pride despite thumping from Seahawks
The 49ers insisted they're in the same echelon as the Seahawks, but The Improbables didn't have that magic Saturday night.
www.nytimes.com
January 18, 2026 at 4:47 PM
49ers’ improbable season ends with defiance, pride — despite another thumping from Seahawks…
www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
For a drained Christian McCaffrey, ‘emotional roller coaster’ comes to a painful end ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
January 18, 2026 at 2:02 PM
For a drained Christian McCaffrey, ‘emotional roller coaster’ comes to a painful end ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
Though Shanahan and the players deserve most of the credit for the 13 wins, Lynch and his front office have made more than a dozen key pickups, and they have all seemingly had an impact.
Lynch said he is not surprised by the team’s success ...
Lynch said he is not surprised by the team’s success ...
A conversation with 49ers GM John Lynch: How the 49ers got here, why new players fit in so well and what gives them a chance tonight. ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
January 17, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Though Shanahan and the players deserve most of the credit for the 13 wins, Lynch and his front office have made more than a dozen key pickups, and they have all seemingly had an impact.
Lynch said he is not surprised by the team’s success ...
Lynch said he is not surprised by the team’s success ...
A conversation with 49ers GM John Lynch: How the 49ers got here, why new players fit in so well and what gives them a chance tonight. ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
January 17, 2026 at 4:08 PM
A conversation with 49ers GM John Lynch: How the 49ers got here, why new players fit in so well and what gives them a chance tonight. ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
Reposted by Vic Tafur
Vic’s NFL divisional playoffs picks against the spread: Trying to follow up a 5-1 week ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...
January 16, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Vic’s NFL divisional playoffs picks against the spread: Trying to follow up a 5-1 week ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...
Vic’s NFL divisional playoffs picks against the spread: Trying to follow up a 5-1 week ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...
January 16, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Vic’s NFL divisional playoffs picks against the spread: Trying to follow up a 5-1 week ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...
Must have read this today … www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
The Steelers have submitted an interview request for 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak for their head coach vacancy, per source.
January 15, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Must have read this today … www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
Reposted by Vic Tafur
How the 49ers find the right play and avoid their biggest challenge against Seahawks ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
How the 49ers find the right play call and dodge the Seahawks' biggest threat
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:27 PM
How the 49ers find the right play and avoid their biggest challenge against Seahawks ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
Reposted by Vic Tafur
Eric Kendricks suddenly became the 49ers’ glue. How the heck was someone so valuable still available?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
Eric Kendricks suddenly became the 49ers’ glue. How the heck was he still available?
Last season ended with five active linebackers in the 1,000-tackle club. Only Kendricks had to wait until late November to join a team.
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Eric Kendricks suddenly became the 49ers’ glue. How the heck was someone so valuable still available?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
How the 49ers find the right play and avoid their biggest challenge against Seahawks ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
How the 49ers find the right play call and dodge the Seahawks' biggest threat
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:27 PM
How the 49ers find the right play and avoid their biggest challenge against Seahawks ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/697...
Another story from Philly:
49ers’ no-name defense ‘scratching and clawing’ to keep season alive ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...
49ers’ no-name defense ‘scratching and clawing’ to keep season alive ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...
January 12, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Another story from Philly:
49ers’ no-name defense ‘scratching and clawing’ to keep season alive ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...
49ers’ no-name defense ‘scratching and clawing’ to keep season alive ⤵️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...
How the 49ers silenced Eagles fans on the arms of Brock Purdy and Jauan Jennings ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...
January 12, 2026 at 3:12 PM
How the 49ers silenced Eagles fans on the arms of Brock Purdy and Jauan Jennings ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/696...