49ers GM John Lynch Addresses Discussions on Kyle Shanahan’s Future

Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers looks on in the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Nov. 24, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. Stacy Revere / Getty Images

San Francisco 49ers’ General Manager John Lynch expressed his support for head coach Kyle Shanahan, as the team’s season hasn’t gone as planned, with a losing record after a Super Bowl appearance.

Losing NFL teams have traditionally been known to fire head coaches in-season or right after the regular season ends. Shanahan’s future has been called into question amid the 49ers’ three-game losing streak and 5–7 record and the high risk of missing the playoffs.

“I’ve found the whole discussion on Kyle rather comical,” Lynch told KNBR on Friday. “We have won four of the last five division championships. We’ve been to two Super Bowls. The standard here is to win championships, and we’ve fallen short of that, I understand.

“But we have an excellent head coach, and the fact that people are talking about stuff like that, I do find it comical. We’re 100 percent behind Kyle and what he brings to our organization.”

Shanahan has been coaching the 49ers since 2017. In his first head coaching job, he so far has a 69–58 record in the regular season and is 12–8 in the postseason. He led the 49ers to four seasons of 10 wins or more. He’s now facing a potential fourth losing season with the team.

San Francisco notably will face a Chicago Bears team (4—8) that just parted ways with former head coach Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29. Despite losing records for both teams, either could still make the playoffs by winning and getting help from teams ahead of them.

“Like I said, our focus is really on the Bears and doing everything we can,” Lynch said. “That’s where Kyle’s focus is, and that’s where all our focus is.”

San Francisco will have to do it without starting running back Christian McCaffrey, who is on injured reserve. Injuries have plagued the 49ers all season, including other stars such as defensive end Nick Bosa, who has been out two weeks already.

“One thing I can tell you is I’m proud of how this group has stuck together, had each other’s back,” Lynch said. “The other thing I can tell you is the story’s not written yet. We’re still grinding, and we’re still playing.”

If the 49ers aren’t playing after the regular season ends in Week 18, it will mark the second time the team has missed the playoffs after previously reaching the Super Bowl. San Francisco missed the playoffs in the 2020 season after losing the Super Bowl the year before to the Kansas City Chiefs.