The San Francisco 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan found themselves at the center of swirling trade speculation ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Chicago Bears.
The rumors, first floated by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, suggested Shanahan could be a potential trade target for the Bears.
However, after a decisive 38-13 victory over Chicago, Shanahan unequivocally shut down the notion of leaving the team.
“I don’t want to be any place in the world more than here,” Shanahan bluntly said.
The win brought some relief to a 49ers squad struggling to replicate their dominant form from the past few years.
Entering the game with a surprising 5-7 record, the 49ers were fighting to stay in contention for a playoff spot.
Sunday’s dominant performance kept them a game behind the second-place Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West standings.
The Shanahan trade speculation gained traction last week when Florio proposed that the Bears consider pursuing Shanahan.
He noted the NFL’s rules allow teams to trade for head coaches, referencing a near-deal in 2014 when the 49ers reportedly planned to send then-coach Jim Harbaugh to the Cleveland Browns.
“The rules allow it. The prospective employer calls the coach’s current team and expresses interest. If the current team is willing, they negotiate,” Florio said.
“If an agreement on compensation is reached, the new team has the green light to make the coach an offer. It costs nothing to try. Still, teams (as far as anyone knows) rarely do.”
The 49ers’ front office quickly dismissed the rumors.
General manager John Lynch called the speculation “comical” and emphasized Shanahan’s importance to the team.
“I sit back, and I try to be focused, but I’ve found the whole discussion on Kyle and some of the stuff rather comical,” Lynch said.
Under Shanahan’s leadership, the 49ers delivered their most dominant performance of the season, scoring a season-high 38 points and earning their largest margin of victory at 25 points.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak and reinforced Shanahan’s value to the franchise as they seek to stay alive in the playoff hunt.
The offense clicked on all cylinders, and the defense smothered the Bears, allowing just 13 points.
The win against Chicago not only silenced trade chatter but also bolstered their postseason ambitions.
While they have virtually no margin for error, we all know if Shanahan and the Niners are able to make the playoffs – and are relatively healthy – they will surely be a very tough-out.
What are your thoughts on Shanahan? … Do you think San Francisco would ever consider trading him???
