Is It Time for the 49ERS to Think About Life After Kyle Shanahan?
Riding a 3-Game Losing Streak and Without Any Mojo, Should the Niners Move On From Shanahan?
The Niners Need to Be Better
Remember a year ago when the San Francisco 49ers were everybody’s worst nightmare? It didn’t matter who was next on their NFL schedule; it was a given that the Niners were ready to kick ass and take names.
Trotting back to the present, it seems as if all those teams that used to fear the mighty Niners have all started to figure out how to play and beat them.
The 2024 San Francisco 49ers summed up in one play. Can only laugh now pic.twitter.com/xk4UEJbx8y
— Bay Area Sports Emo (@BayAreaEmo) December 2, 2024
So who’s to blame here? Is it the offense that’s been worked to the bone while half-assing their latest performances? Or maybe the defense that’s starting to show they can’t manhandle everybody and go home to take a rest?
The only reality right now is that the Niners have gone from potential Super Bowl contenders to a team that looks like it’s experiencing an identity crisis that continues to grow as weeks go by.
There are plenty of potential culprits here, but according to NFL rumors, head coach Kyle Shanahan is leading the pack.
Having lost their last three games, including back-to-back 25+ point defeats against the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills, and riding last in the NFC West with a 5-7 record, it seems as if reality is starting to beat the pulp out of Shanahan and his players.
So, what’s going on in ‘Frisco’, and what should happen moving forward?
Should Fans Expect a Shanahan/Niners Break up Anytime Soon?
While NFL news outlets have been digging deeper into the idea of a Shanahan/Niners breakup, the cracks are starting to show more and more as the season progresses.
Even with a star-studded roster, the team hasn’t shown the hunger it had last season. I’m not saying it’s not there. But it’s not being displayed. And that’s on Shanahan. It’s almost like he’s too good for his own being.
Yes, Shanahan is one of the most gifted football minds in the sport. Still, there have been decisions that make it easy to wonder if he’s maybe juggling more than he can handle, like Christian McCaffrey’s injury situation for example.
Kyle Shanahan runs his star players into the ground.
He’s been doing it for years, but nobody cared because they were winning games.
Latest Example: He didn’t ease CMC back into things post injury. He got thrusted into 95%+ snap counts immediately, and now he’s hurt again… pic.twitter.com/Q39gEvhnPI
— Jake Eckberg (@JakeEckbergNFL) December 2, 2024
Instead of thinking about how to use his players properly, he runs them to the bone, thus exposing them to burnout, injuries, and faulty playing. Look at the team’s performance against Buffalo. That is in no way, shape, or form what fans have grown accustomed to from Shanahan’s Niners. And again, that’s on him.
Kyle Shanahan outside the Bills stadium realizing the 49ers Super Bowl window is officially closed pic.twitter.com/ilWWRjafWC
— GhettoGronk (@TheGhettoGronk) December 2, 2024
In a way, it makes perfect sense that the Niners are losing NFL games left and right, and their title window is shut for now.
What Does This Mean for Brock Purdy?
Let’s look at Brock Purdy’s reality for a second. From everybody’s favorite “Mr. Irrelevant” story of all time in 2022 and leading the team to last season’s Super Bowl to slumping it out this season, how will the conversation go when it’s time to talk about a new contract for the passer?
“The Niners would be insane to give him a contract after this year, they need to see him next year.”
— @getnickwright on Brock Purdy pic.twitter.com/juccVbhYNB
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) December 2, 2024
This is the kind of slump a player who deserves a max contract and the title of franchise QB for a team like the Niners must endure to prove his true worth. If Purdy manages to pick up his game and lead the team to finish the season on a positive note, then good on him. If not, it will make more sense to hold the contract talks.
But he needs a coach to help him overcome that slump and find his talents again. Somebody likes Shanahan when he’s not over his head like right now.
San Francisco’s front office must ask itself two questions: Has Purdy shown enough to get a max deal? Should the Niners wait out another year and then revisit the contract ideas? I know you’re not asking me, but I still say to hold the contract talks for at least one more year.
