SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Even after watching his team make NFL history with five consecutive losses by three points or fewer over the past month-plus, San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York hasn't lost perspective on the long-term franchise renovation that began when he hired coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch in the offseason.

When York made those moves, he did so with no false pretense that this was going to be a quick turnaround in which the Niners magically go from worst to first in one year. It's part of the reason he handed Shanahan and Lynch unprecedented six-year contracts and made sure they knew they'd have time to install the culture they want with the players they believe in.

In early September, York told ESPN that the success of this season wouldn't be measured by wins and losses. So despite those six defeats to open this season, York hasn't wavered in his commitment to letting Shanahan and Lynch lay the foundation for the long haul.

"We're getting much closer to where we want to be," York said. "Obviously, we are not there yet. I wanted to make sure that John and Kyle came in here and had a very, very long runway and they had the ability to get the roster where they wanted it. I knew that this wasn't going to happen overnight. I think our players are encouraged. They see the progress that we're making and they know that they're not quite there yet."

Indeed, the Niners have been incredibly close to winning five of their six games, losing their past five by a total of 13 points and having at least one possession with a chance to win it late in each of those contests. Although those losses have been maddening for a fanbase craving wins -- the 49ers have won two of their past 20 games -- there have been some positives to take away.

At the top of that list is a group of young players still learning how to win but doing enough to keep the 49ers in games. And now that youth movement is in full effect after the release of linebacker NaVorro Bowman and the elevation of rookie C.J. Beathard to starting quarterback.

All in all, York believes the Niners are making progress, even if it's not showing up in the win column.

"When you're losing on the last drive of sort of the last five games and you're really, really close, that's part of having a very young team, having a team that there's been a ton of turnover, almost historic turnover," York said. "We need to figure out how do we fight together and make that last push to win on that last drive? We're starting to get there.

"I think our players, as much as you might not like the record, I don't get the sense that our players are discouraged at all. ... But I think our fans have been fantastic in supporting John, Kyle, this existing team and knowing that when you're building this thing for the future, we don't want a quick fix and sacrifice the long-term success for a few wins that may or may not mean anything this season. We want to get our team back to championship caliber level. I think that's the trajectory that we're on. The results might not show it but i think the feeling that you get around this building and the feeling that you get talking to players and coaches, we're much closer than what our record would suggest."