Three reasons 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan merits NFL Coach of the Year

San Francisco is winning despite injuries   

Brock Purdy was sidelined for six weeks with a turf toe injury. George Kittle missed five games with a hamstring injury. Fred Warner suffered a dislocated ankle, Nick Bosa and rookie first-round draft pick Mykel Williams tore their ACLs, all resulting in season-ending injuries.

Any other team that lost their two most important defensive players for the season, was without their starting quarterback and starting tight end for multiple weeks, while other impact players, unavailable to start the season, would have been in a worse situation.

The Week 1 roster is different from what it is during their bye week. The front office has had to deal with shuffling the roster to put a winning product on the field, but it didn’t miss a beat. 

It’s an accomplishment in itself that the Niners are as successful this late in the season. Being able to fight through adversity due to injury and have the success they have had is a reason why Shanahan deserves a spot in the COY conversation. 

Quarterback carousel  

Another reason Shanahan deserves to be in the COY conversation is how they handled their quarterback situation. While Purdy missed multiple games after Week 1, backup quarterback Mac Jones stepped in during his absence, and they didn't skip a beat. 

Winning multiple games in different ways, Jones played well during his eight games. He led them to a 5-3 record, with a 13-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 2,151 passing yards.  
 
Jones also produced on the field with less well-known players, such as wide receivers Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne and tight end Jake Tonges, making impact plays to help win games, showing they can win games in any scenario. Keeping their playoffs alive with a backup quarterback playing is another example of why Shanahan deserves recognition in the COY conversation.

Playoff position 

Despite a plethora of injuries, the team is in a perfect position to accomplish its goal of making the playoffs. General manager John Lynch believes the NFC is wide-open, and the 49ers have a good chance.

After their bye week, they have four games left to end the season with against the Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, and Seattle Seahawks. This team has an opportunity to have 10 to 14 wins this season, which is an accomplishment for any team. 

Their success this year is a testimony to their strong culture and is one of the many reasons why Shanahan needs to be in the Coach of the Year conversation. The 49ers are a team to keep an eye on because they have a playoff pedigree that other teams in the NFC do not possess, therefore being a threat to beat anyone in a one-game playoff.