Sports Illustrated hypes Kyle Shanahan for 2021

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan ranked fairly excessive in Sports activities Illustrated’s latest rating of all head coaches coming into the 2021 season.

San Francisco 49ers followers in all probability really feel fairly good about their head coach, Kyle Shanahan. At the least those that aren’t too upset about what occurred within the fourth quarter throughout Tremendous Bowl LIV in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

And whereas Shanahan has his justifiable share of gaffes since taking on duties in 2017, it’s in all probability secure to imagine even essentially the most skeptical Niners fan would take Shanahan over these two head coaches who preceded him, Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly.

A superb chunk of NFL head coach rankings in all probability listing Shanahan within the decrease half coming into 2021, and there are key the reason why. That Tremendous Bowl loss, particularly, has to forged some lengthy shadows. So does the very fact Shanahan boasts three shedding seasons out of 4 since taking on San Francisco’s opening.

But Sports activities Illustrated’s Conor Orr is definitely fairly bullish about Shanahan heading into the upcoming season, putting him at No. 9 on his coach rankings for 2021:

I perceive the criticism that Shanahan, a coach with a shedding profession file who has been accountable for a pair of vital misplaced leads in Tremendous Bowls, shouldn’t be this excessive. Nonetheless, any cheap individual taking a look at his physique of labor, his groups’ historical past of accidents and out there gamers on the time of main roster selections shouldn’t be too wanting to dismiss his one Tremendous Bowl look as a head coach as a fluke. Future head coaches might be pouring out of his teaching room within the coming years. Robert Saleh took the Jets job and with him introduced Mike LaFleur, a reputation that may begin to pop up in head-coaching lists. Mike McDaniel, Shanahan’s offensive coordinator now, is one other identify that might be buzzing come teaching carousel season. The addition of Trey Lance solely serves to deepen the thriller surrounding what this workforce will appear like transferring ahead, however one factor is for positive: Shanahan has been forward of the curve offensively for nearly a decade now and reveals no indicators of slowing down.

In equity to Shanahan, his 6-10 file in 2017 adopted a near-70 % teardown of the roster he inherited and successful his ultimate 5 video games that 12 months after buying and selling for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo put the top coach on the upswing coming into 2018.

Solely to see Garoppolo endure an ACL tear in Week 3 the next season, which in the end resulted within the 49ers being a four-win workforce that 12 months.

A wholesome Garoppolo and comparatively wholesome squad in 2019? A Tremendous Bowl look and close to win.

The NFL’s most injured team in 2021? One other 6-10 end, however some could argue Shanahan exceeded expectations final 12 months, too, in gentle of all these accidents.

49ers, Kyle Shanahan nonetheless have to win regardless of Trey Lance addition

Garoppolo’s accidents have been a main motive why Shanahan and common supervisor John Lynch needed to maneuver on, prompting final spring’s commerce as much as the No. 3 general spot within the NFL Draft for Lance.

Whereas going with Lance reveals the Niners are taking part in the lengthy sport, three shedding seasons out of 4 (all with 10-plus losses) and a 29-35 general regular-season file is sufficient to counsel Shanahan has to show issues round in 2021.

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San Francisco doesn’t essentially must be a Tremendous Bowl workforce this 12 months. No, a robust push into the playoffs would in all probability suffice. And with a seventh seed added in every convention, merely attending to 9 wins may be sufficient.

Though the strain might be on to exceed that quantity.

Not doing so in all probability received’t endanger Shanahan’s long-term future a lot, but it surely actually would name into query whether or not or not he’s adequately getting the job carried out.