Kyle Shanahan reflects on Trey Lance's failed 49ers tenure

Before Los Angeles Chargers backup quarterback Trey Lance became one of the standout players of the ongoing preseason, he failed to cement himself as a long-term option for the San Francisco 49ers after they made him the third overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. 

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was part of the regime that brought Lance to San Francisco. On Tuesday, Shanahan reflected on Lance's failed 49ers tenure as Shanahan's club prepares to host the Chargers for this coming Saturday's preseason finale.

"When I revisit that, we knew where our team was at and where it was going to be the next couple years, and we were committed to getting a rookie quarterback," Shanahan said about the 49ers' decision to draft Lance, as shared by Taylor Wirth of NBC Sports Bay Area. "We weren't sure that it would be forever, but we thought that was important, contractually, where our team was at, in order to keep a good team together."

Lance spent the bulk of his rookie year as a backup, and he then suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 of the 2022 campaign. Later that year, Brock Purdy became a rookie sensation en route to guiding the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game. 

In the summer of 2023, Lance fell to third on the 49ers depth chart beneath Purdy and Sam Darnold. San Francisco then traded Lance to the Dallas Cowboys for a 2024 fourth-round draft choice in late August 2023.  

In total, Lance made just four regular-season starts for the 49ers. More recently, he rushed for a touchdown and passed for 296 yards with two scores over the Chargers' first three preseason games. It seems he still has a fan in his former coach. 

"I'm pulling for Trey. I love Trey," Shanahan added about Lance. "One of the best people I've been around, and I really hope it works out for him."

One may never know if Shanahan truly wanted to select Mac Jones over Lance in the spring of 2021. Jones is now on track to open the upcoming season as Purdy's primary backup, while Lance is trying to revive his career with the Chargers. 

It could be interesting to see if Shanahan and Lance get together for a chat after Saturday's matchup wraps up.