This season for the 49ers was always going to be a challenge given the turnover on their roster.
They took on the most dead money against the salary cap of any NFL team this season, parting ways with aging veterans on both sides of the ball, including leaders like Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw. They committed to rebuilding the defense with young draft picks, especially along the defensive line. They started multiple rookies on defense, from linemen Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, C.J. West to nickel Upton Stout.
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Special Teams Transformation
Kyle Shanahan also tore down the horrendous special teams’ unit, hired former Jets’ special teams’ coordinator Brant Boyer, brought in new specialists and they suddenly have one of the NFL’s best special teams’ groups.
From Doubt to the Doorstep of the NFC Championship
It’s crazy to think that the 49ers are 60 minutes away from being back in the NFC Championship. After the trade deadline had passed three months ago, most were wondering if the 49ers were even going to make the playoffs this season. The injuries were mounting, the pass rush was a major point of weakness and Brock Purdy had not returned from his turf toe.
Fast forward and Purdy’s accounted for 10 touchdowns, there’s a chance Fred Warner might return in two weeks and the 49ers pulled off a miraculous win on Sunday in Philadelphia in the Wild-Card round after losing tight end George Kittle to a torn achilles.
Kyle Shanahan’s Finest Coaching Job
The man that’s behind it all – Kyle Shanahan – has yet to win a Coach of the Year award, despite being deserving in 2019, 2022 and 2023. He might not go on to win the award this season, but it’s easily the best coaching job of his career.
He came back this offseason, looking reinvigorated and reenergized at the opportunity of leading a young team coming off of a disappointing season. There were no “Super Bowl or bust” expectations hanging over this team. It was a re-tooling year and an opportunity for the 49ers to improve and see what they can achieve at the end of the year.
Overcoming Injuries and Adversity
The challenge got more difficult right out of the gates, losing George Kittle and Brock Purdy after Week 1, losing Nick Bosa and Fred Warner in the first quarter of the season and eventually losing first-round pick Mykel Williams for the season.
Despite having started a backup quarterback in Mac Jones for eight games, the 49ers still on track to finish the season with at least 12 wins and are currently third in Super Bowl odds at Bovada.
A Dominant Offense and a Legitimate Super Bowl Threat
The offense – which is designed and called by Kyle Shanahan – is ranked second in most advanced metrics behind the Rams’ offense. His game management and leadership this season has been off the charts and it’s been mostly overlooked because of his own greatness and previous success with the 49ers.
Regardless of whether or not he actually wins the award, I think this has been his best coaching job since he got here in 2017. He’s had talented teams that have met expectations, injury-ridden teams that have fought hard in seasons where they have missed the playoffs. This team, despite their schedule, has been dominating in the last two months of the season and has a chance to make a Super Bowl run with their star head coach.
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