Why 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan may be on the hot seat in 2025

The San Francisco 49ers face high expectations coming into almost every season. Those expectations have only been raised under the leadership of head coach Kyle Shanahan, who now finds himself at a crossroads. After two Super Bowl trips (and two heartbreaking losses), multiple deep postseason runs and a reputation built as one of the game’s sharpest offensive minds, Shanahan’s job security could be in question.

San Francisco collapsed last season, finishing 6-11, which was a dud of epic proportions. Now, as we quickly approach the 2025 campaign, Shanahan’s coaching seat may be heating up. After nine seasons at the helm, if the Niners can’t bounce back, will it finally be time to move on without Shanahan?

Kyle Shanahan's legacy in San Francisco

Kyle Shanahan isn’t your average NFL coach. Since arriving in San Francisco, he’s turned a once-lost franchise into a regular postseason threat. Four NFC Championship appearances in five years are no small feat, especially after the down years that preceded his hire. Shanahan’s brand of football, built on creative run schemes, motion-heavy passing attacks and a knack for maximizing talent, helped reset the bar in the NFC West.

He’s also shown a rare ability to build diverse, skilled coaching staffs and has been praised for developing young talent (even if the first-round draft record is spotty at best). Shanahan’s career record sits at 70-62, with an impressive 8-4 playoff mark. But for all the progress, one thing eludes him: a Super Bowl ring.

Why pressure is mounting for Shanahan 

That 6-11 finish last season was a stunner. Injuries to stars played a large part, but the bigger problem seemed to be a lack of urgency and focus. SF never really got its rhythm going and just looked out of sync for most of the season. For a team expecting to challenge for the NFC title, missing the playoffs again would be devastating, and the blame lands squarely at Shanahan’s feet.

Ownership could become restless even with the success Shanahan has had in the Bay Area. There are only so many times you can get close without actually getting over the hump and still keep your job as an NFL coach. The 49ers will have the NFL's easiest schedule this season and expectations of a quick rebound. Another stumble, especially after last year’s disaster, would crank up the heat to a boil.

Shanahan can’t have another down year

After reaching the Super Bowl the previous year, the Niners fell off the NFL contender map last season. A repeat of 2024’s failure could spark big changes in San Francisco. San Francisco suffered a down year after its first Super Bowl appearance under Shanahan, but were able to bounce back the next season. If the Niners can manage that this time, then all the talk about hot seats goes away.

However, another flop of a season won’t just threaten his job; it could change the direction of the entire franchise. A lot is riding on the franchise bouncing back this year, and among those things is the franchise’s identity. Shanahan needs to get this team back on the winning track, or it could be all she wrote.