49ers make uniform switch for what’s expected to be hottest game in Levi’s Stadium history

The San Francisco 49ers will wear alternate uniforms that include white pants as they prepare for what promises to be the hottest NFL game played at Levi’s Stadium.

Temperatures are expected to be about 95 degrees at kickoff at 1:05 p.m. Pacific time Sunday and will creep toward 100 degrees throughout the afternoon. The hottest game to date was a preseason game played on Aug. 31, 2017, in which the kickoff temperature was 90 degrees. The hottest regular-season kickoff temperature was 88 degrees against the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 4, 2021.

AccuWeather has the temperature topping out at 99 on Sunday; puts it at 100 degrees. pic.twitter.com/LBN7L1w4ag

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) October 4, 2024

Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers looked into wearing their all-white throwback uniforms but were told they had to make that request before the season. Instead, they will wear their throwback uniforms that feature a red jersey and white pants.

“We’ll get as much white on as possible, and the most we were (allowed) to do was white paints,” he said.

The Arizona Cardinals, meanwhile, will wear their all-white uniforms for the game.

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Shanahan said the team also will preach hydration before and during the game, and he expects the number of players getting IVs to increase. Some players get pre-game IVs as part of their normal routine.

Left tackle Trent Williams has gotten in-game IVs twice already this season — during Week 1 against the New York Jets and at halftime in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily the heat,” Williams said on the need for an IV. “It just all depends on where your hydration level is. Sometimes you take caffeine (for) fast-twitch‚ stuff like that that can accelerate your sweating and your dehydration.”

The 49ers practiced in 90-degree weather throughout the week. Williams was asked how it compared to the heat in his native Texas.

“It don’t. It don’t,” he said with a laugh. “No comparison at all.”