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Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The San Francisco 49ers have been one of the staple contenders in the NFC over the last few years. Unfortunately, injuries have derailed their chances of winning a Super Bowl.

Kyle Shanahan has been viewed as one of the top head coaches in the NFL for quite some time. However, the reality of coming up short of championship aspirations can way heavy even on the best coaches in sports.

With that being said, is there any chance the 49ers would consider moving on from Shanahan if the 2026 season doesn’t go as planned?

That is exactly the scenario that one NFL analyst has suggested.

49ers’ Kyle Shanahan Placed on Coaching Hot Seat

SBNation’s James Dator believes that Shanahan belongs on the list of coaches on the hot seat to begin the 2026 season.

“Shanahan was my personal coach of the year in 2025 for how he managed the team’s myriad injuries and still put a competitive product on the field. If this team gets healthy and once again fails to make a run to the Super Bowl then it’s probably fair to start asking some questions,” Dator wrote.

“While Shanny has had big-time success with two NFC Championships and five playoff berths, he’s also 0.550 in win percentage, and routinely leads a team picked to it all, only to fall just short.”

He continued on, stating that Shanahan wouldn’t be fired due to poor coaching. Rather, San Francisco might just feel that a change of scenery is needed. That decision could come from both sides.

“This wouldn’t be a case of Shanahan leaving because of poor performance, but rather an understanding that the status quo wasn’t working for either side.”

What Is Kyle Shanahan’s Track Record in San Francisco?

Since becoming the team’s head coach back in the 2017 season, Shanahan has led the 49ers to an 82-67 record. That is solid, but not elite.

He has also led the team to two Super Bowl appearances. Shanahan has lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in both of those championship opportunities.

Out of the nine seasons he has coached in San Francisco, Shanahan has won the division just three times. It’s not like the 49ers have been dominating their own division for years under his leadership.

No one can say that Shanahan isn’t a very good head coach. However, the fact of the matter is that his numbers don’t show him being an “elite” head coach either.

Should the team come up well short of what they’re expected to do this season, there is a very real chance that he could find himself looking for a new job.