Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio stirred controversy earlier this week by suggesting that the Chicago Bears should consider calling the San Francisco 49ers about a possible trade for head coach Kyle Shanahan. This speculation raised eyebrows, especially given the success Shanahan has brought to the 49ers in recent years. In response, 49ers general manager John Lynch addressed the chatter during an appearance on San Francisco sports radio station KNBR on Friday.
Lynch didn’t hold back, making it clear he found the discussion surrounding Shanahan’s potential departure “comical.” He pointed out that the 49ers have won four of the last five NFC West division championships and made two Super Bowl appearances under Shanahan. Lynch acknowledged that while the ultimate goal is to win championships, the team has been highly successful under Shanahan’s leadership, despite falling short in the Super Bowl.
Lynch further emphasized that the current chatter around Shanahan’s future didn’t make sense, given the team’s strong track record. He reflected on the fact that Shanahan has led the Niners to four NFC Championship Game appearances and two Super Bowl appearances since 2019. However, the 49ers have yet to win a Super Bowl during that stretch, with losses to the Kansas City Chiefs in both of their Super Bowl appearances.
At the time of Lynch’s comments, the 49ers were entering a critical matchup against the Chicago Bears with a 5-7 record. The team has been struggling with injuries, which has impacted their performance, but Lynch still stood by Shanahan as the team’s leader. Lynch’s remarks showed a strong commitment to Shanahan despite the team’s challenges.
Florio had also made comments earlier in the week suggesting that Shanahan might be exhausted and could be considering a “reset.” He speculated that the 49ers’ Super Bowl window with their current group of veteran players might be closing, leading to uncertainty about the team’s future. Florio questioned whether the 49ers could maintain the same level of success moving forward.
Despite these speculations, Shanahan himself has not indicated any desire to leave the 49ers, and Lynch seemed resolute in his support for his head coach. Even if the team’s Super Bowl hopes with the current roster are dimming, Shanahan remains a central figure in the 49ers’ future plans.
Lynch concluded by suggesting that he wouldn’t entertain any trade offers for Shanahan. This firmly shut down any rumors about the coach’s departure, reinforcing the 49ers’ commitment to their current leadership and their ongoing quest for a championship.
