Fans greet San Francisco 49ers returning to Bay Area after Super Bowl LIV

SAN JOSE — The San Francisco 49ers arrived in the Bay Area on Monday afternoon as a small group of fans cheered, clapped and waved a flag for their team from behind a chain-link fence.

The 49ers' United Airlines plane landed about 2 p.m. at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport; players, coaches and staff slowly deplaned, looking weary, and boarded several nearby charter buses. Head coach Kyle Shanahan waved as he exited the ramp, but most players — some wearing headphones — quietly made their way to the buses.

In case you missed it, the 49ers — up by 10 points with 9 minutes to go in Super Bowl LIV — lost Sunday to the Kansas City Chiefs, 31-20, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Stella Masi, of Palo Alto, works in a nearby building and was the first fan to arrive. "I want the Niners to know that even though it wasn't a win, they'll still have people who will support them to the end."

Lifelong 49ers fan Adam DeMaestri, with son Carson, 10, of

Monte Sereno, shot video on his phone as the team arrived. His son woke up Monday morning and told his dad he was still so sad that the team had lost.

"It was brutal. I had about 100 people in my house, and we had a great party, and everybody was devastated," DeMaestri said.

Longtime fans Jennifer Kelley and Susan Lanzinger, of Sunnyvale, were among the handful of loyal supporters who braved the strong winds and cool temperatures on the tarmac.

"It's been terrific and we hoped they'd win the Super Bowl, but there's always next year," Lanzinger said.