NFL Coach of the Year is supposed to reward excellence in the face of adversity — not just the coach with the healthiest roster or the flashiest record.
By that standard alone, Kyle Shanahan deserves to be the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year.
The San Francisco 49ers didn’t cruise through the regular season. They survived it.
Kyle Shanahan Deserves NFL Coach of the Year — Because He Won *Despite* Chaos
The NFL Coach of the Year award isn’t meant for coaches whose teams roll through the easiest schedules unscathed. It’s for coaches who keep teams competitive in the face of adversity, uncertainty, and critical losses. If tradition holds, **Kyle Shanahan should be at the top of every COTY ballot this season** — because he kept the 49ers in contention for the NFC West and the overall No. 1 seed even while losing their star quarterback and key contributors.
🏈 A Season of Adversity — Offense and Defense Took Hits
The 49ers lost major contributors across the roster throughout the 2025 regular season. On offense, they endured multiple injuries at skill positions, along the offensive line, and — most pressingly — at quarterback. Defensively, losing impact players required adjustments week in and week out.
Most coaches would see a slide in wins under that load of attrition. Shanahan found a way to sustain success.
📊 Brock Purdy: Elite Efficiency Before Injury
When healthy, Brock Purdy produced excellent results:
- Games Started: 9
- Starter Record: 7–2–0 in the regular season
- Completion %: 69.4%
- Passing Yards: 2,167
- Touchdowns: 20
- Interceptions: 10
Purdy’s efficiency numbers and the 7-2 starter record show Shanahan’s offense firing when his franchise quarterback was on the field — but Purdy **missed a significant portion of the season due to injury**, forcing Shanahan to pivot midstream. ([pro-football-reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PurdBr00.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
📊 Mac Jones: Backup Turned Effective Starter
When Purdy went down, Shanahan turned to veteran backup quarterback Mac Jones, and the results were surprisingly strong:
- Games Played: 11
- Completion %: 69.6%
- Passing Yards: 2,151
- Touchdowns: 13
- Interceptions: 6
- Passer Rating: 97.4
Jones was previously drafted in the 1st round in 2021 and had flashes earlier in his career, but his performance with the Patriots and Jaguars was inconsistent. Before joining the 49ers, Jones’ best seasons were productive but it was unclear if he could lead a contender. ([turn0search0][turn0search7])
Under Shanahan’s system in 2025, Jones produced near-Purdy efficiency and minimized turnovers. He made quick decisions, worked from a tailored game plan, and managed the offense in a way that kept San Francisco competitive — something few expected from a backup quarterback stepping into 49ers games.
This wasn’t plug-and-play football. It was *Shanahan coaching up a veteran quarterback and fitting the offense to his strengths*, enabling wins that helped keep San Francisco in divisional and seeding contention.
📍 Keeping the Team in the NFC West & No.1 Seed Race
The 2025 San Francisco 49ers finished the regular season **12–5**, narrowly missing out on the NFC’s overall No. 1 seed and division crown after a Week 18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. That game was essentially for the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed — and despite being underdogs, the 49ers *were still in position to win it until the final week*. ([turn0search4])
San Francisco’s surge late — including a six-game winning streak — came with a patched-together roster and quarterback rotation. That keeps the team in a position many didn’t predict after Purdy’s early injury and other personnel losses.
🧠 Shanahan’s Coaching Matters — Here’s Why
- He kept the offense competitive with multiple starting QBs. Not only did Purdy perform efficiently, but Jones also delivered above expectations and kept the offense effective.
- He adapted his scheme to the available personnel. Shanahan didn’t force a prescriptive scheme on Jones. He worked with Jones’ strengths and managed the game thoughtfully.
- He kept the 49ers in the division and NFC seeding race. Even down a starter at quarterback and missing key pieces, San Francisco hung around for the NFC West title and No. 1 seed until Week 18.
That’s what great coaching looks like — not just wins when everything goes right, but wins when everything goes sideways.
📊 Coach of the Year Isn’t Just Stats — It’s Overcoming Adversity
The award should recognize coaches whose teams brain through challenges and find ways to stay in contention. Shanahan’s work this season checks all those boxes:
- Quarterback transitions handled without a collapse.
- Winning record despite injuries to difference-makers.
- Adapting game plans rather than forcing rigid schemes.
- Keeping the 49ers in position for the division and top seeding until the final game.
Kyle Shanahan deserves NFL Coach of the Year — because he kept the 49ers in contention when almost any other coach would have seen the season slip away.
Labels (copy & paste into Blogger)
49ers, Kyle Shanahan, NFL Coach of the Year, 49ers Analysis, Brock Purdy, Mac Jones, 49ers QB, NFL 2025, NFC West, NFL Awards
🔴 Are You a Diehard 49ers Faithful?
This blog is run by fans who live and breathe red & gold — not social media algorithms. We’re building a long-term home for the Faithful outside of Facebook, and we’re looking for writers who can help grow it.
If you’ve got strong takes, game breakdowns, history knowledge, or creative Niners content, we want to hear from you.
Comment below or contact us to join the Faithful
0 Comments