NFL Refuses Sudden Request Made by San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers (2-2) will look to pick up their first divisional win of the season on Sunday when they host the Arizona Cardinals (1-3) at Levi's Stadium.

While the Cardinals are pretty acclimated to Phoenix's usual triple-digit heat, both teams could be dealing with record-setting temperatures in California for their Week 5 matchup.

According to Weather.com , Santa Clara, California has been under an excessive heat warning this week, and the high temperature on Sunday could hit 100 degrees. The hottest recorded game day temperature at Levi's Stadium is 88 degrees, which was set back on Oct. 3, 2021, according to 49ers WebZone .

Given the forecast, the 49ers made a sudden request to the NFL earlier this week about changing their uniform choice. According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, the attempt was refused.

"We asked on Monday, and we weren't allowed to do it," Shanahan told reporters on Friday. "You had to do it before the season started. So in order for us to do it, we've kind of got to make like a conscious decision or a commitment before the year that we wear all whites until like the middle of October or whatever, and then go to normal. But it's not usually this hot, so we'll probably do that now just in case."

Shanahan also acknowledged it was the first time the team had ever looked into the rule during his tenure, which dates back to 2017.

The 49ers officially announced on Friday that they'll wear their throwbacks against Arizona, who will be wearing their all-white away uniforms.

"Honestly, since I've been here, it never seems too hot," Shanahan added. "I feel like, even on the hottest days, I still need a hoodie at some time during that day. But this week has felt different, and I truly believe Sunday is going to [be very hot]."

Kickoff on Sunday is set for 1:05 p.m. PT/4:05 p.m. ET. San Francisco has won the last four meetings since 2022 and has scored an average of 39 points on Arizona in those games.

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