The San Francisco 49ers are not expected to part ways with head coach Kyle Shanahan despite a lackluster 2024 season to this point.
However, the prospect of the team entertaining trade calls for the coach has sparked intriguing speculation.
Shanahan, who has led the 49ers since 2017, boasts an impressive record of guiding the team to two Super Bowl appearances and four NFC Championship Games.
Though the franchise fell short in both Super Bowls against the Kansas City Chiefs, Shanahan has cemented his reputation as one of the NFL’s premier coaches.
In a recent interview on The Rich Eisen Show, NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk floated the idea of a potential blockbuster trade involving Shanahan and the Chicago Bears.
Florio speculated that such a move could provide mutual benefits for both the coach and the team.
“I feel like Shanahan and the 49ers are getting close to the point where they would benefit mutually from a fresh start,” Florio said.
“If you can get Shanahan and join him at the hip with Caleb Williams, are you kidding me? So, I hope in this coming cycle we begin to entertain the possibility of trying to do one of these Gruden-style trades.”
Florio emphasized that he hasn’t heard any specific rumors of a trade involving Shanahan but suggested that the end of the coach’s tenure in San Francisco may be approaching.
“They kind of been annually banging their head against the door trying to break it down. This year is a bit weird,” Florio continued.
“It feels like it’s coming to an end from the standpoint of the nucleus of players they have there. You never know what’s really going on behind the scenes.”
The Bears, who recently fired head coach Matt Eberflus, are in the market for a new leader.
While a deal for Shanahan would be a long shot, Florio’s hypothetical has ignited conversation about the direction of both franchises.
Shanahan remains highly regarded across the league, consistently ranked among the NFL’s top three coaches.
His track record in developing players and devising creative offensive schemes would make him a highly coveted asset for any team.
For now, Shanahan’s focus remains on salvaging the 49ers’ season.
Currently sitting at 5-7 and at the bottom of the NFC West, San Francisco faces a steep uphill battle to make the playoffs.
Ironically, their next opponent is the Chicago Bears, with the two teams set to meet this Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
A win could spark a late-season resurgence for the 49ers, while a loss may intensify questions about the future of Shanahan and the franchise.
What are your thoughts on the idea that the Bears should try to trade for Shanahan???
