As the NFL approaches its annual honors ceremony, questions arise regarding whether Kyle Shanahan, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, deserves to be named Coach of the Year. NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms, who has known Shanahan for years, shared his candid thoughts about the 49ers” season.
Simms, during a media session, reflected on his initial skepticism about the team”s potential. “I would joke with his family, saying, “The 49ers aren”t even good. You guys aren”t even good,”” he recalled, noting that he often lightheartedly made these comments to Shanahan”s family members, eliciting laughter.
This season was fraught with challenges for the 49ers, including numerous injuries that sidelined key players, including All-Pros and other contributors. Despite these setbacks, the team managed to remain competitive, and Shanahan guided them to the brink of an NFC West title, with their playoff hopes lasting until the final week of the season.
Even as Simms publicly doubted the team”s chances, he was surprised by their resilience. “I kept saying, “Damn, he”s gonna make me look bad, and this team”s gonna win the NFC West,”” he admitted.
Ultimately, the 49ers” playoff journey concluded with a significant defeat against the Seahawks, ending their season with a 41-6 loss in the divisional round. Although they will not compete for the Super Bowl this year, Shanahan”s leadership through adversity has positioned him as a candidate for the Coach of the Year award, which will be presented during the NFL honors event.
Shanahan, who has been with the 49ers for nine seasons, has never received this accolade, despite being one of the league”s longest-tenured head coaches. Simms expressed his admiration for Shanahan, stating that if he were to start a franchise, Shanahan would be his choice to lead it. “That”s how Kyle”s viewed throughout football,” he noted.
However, the competition for the award is stiff this year. Coaches like Mike Vrabel and Mike McDonald have led their teams from losing records to Super Bowl contention, while Ben Johnson and Liam Cohen have revitalized struggling franchises in Chicago and Jacksonville, respectively.
Former Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett weighed in, stating that Shanahan”s performance was among the best since he took the reins in 2017. “You could certainly make the argument,” Garrett said, highlighting the team”s ability to stay competitive despite their injury woes. “That”s a fantastic job.” Yet, he acknowledged the impressive work done by other coaches this season.
Simms, reflecting on his long-standing friendship with Shanahan, admitted his bias, stating, “What he did this year, come on, it”s crazy. He”s one of the two or three best head coaches in football. But Coach of the Year is really hard this year.” He compared the situation to last year”s MVP race, recognizing the challenges in determining the rightful recipient of the award amid strong contenders.
