Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan will reportedly become the next head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. A formal offer cannot be made until the Falcons have completed their playoff run, but the 49ers want Shanahan, Shanahan wants to go to the 49ers, and a multi-year deal has likely already been agreed upon.
How does his current team, the Falcons, feel about Shanahan leaving them for his first head coaching job? Michael Silver of NFL Media reports that the team has been nothing but supportive of Shanahan and are excited for him about the promotion.
"I'm told that when the 49ers essentially offered Kyle Shanahan the job – they're not allowed to formally offer – but told him, 'You're our guy,' that all of the coaches were in a room together finding out and [Falcons head coach] Dan Quinn kind of announced it to the group and I don't know if people broke into a round of applause, but it was a glorious moment at the Falcons facility," Silver said on NFL Network. "Super supportive about Kyle Shanahan going to the 49ers."
Michael Silver: Atlanta Falcons 'super supportive' about Kyle Shanahan going to 49ers
Quinn knows about waiting during postseason play to become a head coach. He was the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks two years ago when they went to Super Bowl XLIX. The Falcons organization waited patiently on Quinn and he has shared that experience with Shanahan. "I definitely have shared insight with him as he was going through the process for him," Quinn said on Wednesday.
Shanahan will be part of the 49ers' second round of general manager interviews set to kick off next week. Should the Falcons beat the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game to advance to the Super Bowl, Atlanta will have a bye week where Shanahan can meet with the 49ers and general manager candidates. Should the Falcons lose, the 49ers can hire him immediately.
Shanahan has been the offensive coordinator with Atlanta since 2015. Prior to that, he held the same position with the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, and Houston Texans. Shanahan was the offensive coordinator in Washington at the same time that his father, Mike Shanahan, was the head coach.
The 49ers have been without a head coach and general manager since officially announcing the firings of Chip Kelly and Trent Baalke on January 1, following the team's final game of the season.