49ers Resilient Amid Injuries, Climb NFC Rankings
After Sunday, the 49ers’ five wins this season are tied for the most in the NFC, while they are still undefeated in the division. Through seven weeks, that has the 49ers as the #2 seed in the NFC, while 14 of their 22 projected Week 1 starters have missed some amount of time this season.
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Shanahan Overlooked in Coach of the Year Races
In 2019, 49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan led them to the #1 seed, but the Coach of the Year award went to Ravens’ John Harbaugh who had a similarly impressive season. In 2023, Shanahan’s squad dominated the NFL en route to another Super Bowl berth, but voters decided not to give the 49ers’ head man the Coach of the Year honor that year either.
Kyle Shanahan’s Best Coaching Season Yet in 2025
Those seasons were impressive, but 2025 has been Shanahan’s pièce de résistance. He’s been without his starting quarterback, All-Pro tight end, former Defensive Player of the Year edge rusher and now All-Pro linebacker, who’s the unquestioned leader of the team. With injuries all over the field, Shanahan’s been simply masterful in coaching his team to a 5-2 record atop the NFC West.
It’s been inspiring to watch because this year’s team is unlike a Shanahan team we’re used to watching. They’ve struggled to control the line of scrimmage, run the ball at an efficient clip and effectively rush the passer – but it hasn’t mattered. The 49ers’ offense leads the NFL in passing yards per game, their defense has been stout against the run and the biggest surprise of all – their special teams has been net positive.
Shanahan’s Leadership After Fred Warner’s Injury
As John Lynch noted after Sunday night’s victory vs. Falcons, Shanahan had to rally the troops this week after the loss of linebacker Fred Warner. He did so by showing the team clips of rookie year Fred Warner to the team, showing Warner’s growth from 2018 and how second-year linebacker Tatum Bethune can grow similarly.
Robert Saleh’s Return Revives 49ers Defense
But Shanahan’s most impressive show of leadership hails back to March of this year when they were on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator. After two failed one-and-dones at defensive coordinator, Shanahan had an important choice to make and he couldn’t afford making another mistake. He ensured that they would re-hire ex-Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh, making him the highest paid defensive coordinator in the NFL along the way.
That move has paid off in spades, as Saleh’s led a unit that’s missing three defensive ends, starting two rookies on the defensive line, starting a seventh-round rookie at MIKE linebacker and the unit is playing its tail off. On Sunday, they held Falcons’ running back Bijian Robinson to a measly 40 rushing yards, after he ran for 170 the previous week against the Bills.
Shanahan’s Offensive Game Plan Shines Against Falcons
The 49ers’ head coach was equally impressive in dialing up the offense, getting the 49ers’ most efficient rushing performance of the season and delivering long second-half drives to thwart any chance of a Falcons’ comeback. Nobody’s better at controlling the tempo of football game than Kyle Shanahan and he masterfully set up the 49ers to win on Sunday.
Why Shanahan Deserves NFL Coach of the Year in 2025
At Bovada, Shanahan’s still not the favorite for the Coach of the Year award, but I think through seven weeks, there’s not a coach in the NFL who’s done a better job with the team and hand he’s been dealt than the 49ers’ coach.
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