San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan won just 10 games during his first two seasons with the team. Despite the respect he garnered as a play-caller, there were still some who questioned the coach's ability to take a team to the next level.
Shanahan dispelled that doubt last season, leading his squad to a division title and a trip to the Super Bowl.
While the 49ers didn't emerge as champions, team CEO Jed York was impressed enough to reward Shanahan with a contract extension, keeping him in the Bay Area through 2025.
NBC Sports' Chris Simms, while speaking with Mike Florio on Pro Football Talk Live, discussed the new contract earned by the 49ers coach, and his close friend, joking that he'll never have to pay for dinner again when joining Shanahan.
Simms also noted that Shanahan's added money is well-deserved.
"This is a guy that, as you know, Mike, and you've been around Kyle a little bit, he's very passionate about his job," Simms told Florio. "He lives it. He's been invested in it for a long, long time. He's brought a new energy to the 49ers organization.
"Even when they went 6-10 and 4-12 the first two years, it was a quarterback issue. I think everybody still saw that this offense is good. How many close games did they lose, and things like that, because of the lack of that quarterback?
"But they got Jimmy Garoppolo, and a full season of being healthy and everything like that, and I think it truly showed you the potential of Shanahan as the head coach, what his offense could be all about. We don't even think Jimmy Garoppolo is hitting on all cylinders yet."
Garoppolo completed 69.1 percent of his passes for 3,978 yards with 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions during his first full NFL season as a starter. Only two 49ers quarterbacks have passed for more yards in franchise history. Steve Young did it twice, and the record belongs to Jeff Garcia, who threw for 4,278 yards in 2000.
Simms admits that his friendship with Shanahan creates some level of bias, but notes that the coach is one of the smartest individuals he's been around when it comes to football knowledge.
"I think this is the start of an era in San Francisco," Simms added. "I think you found a coach to be a guy that can be the face of your franchise for the next 10, 20 years. That's the kind of talent and mind I think Kyle Shanahan has."
Added Simms: "Kyle is cutting edge in all aspects, bringing new ways to train to the football team, and new ways to study. He's cutting edge that way. He's like a Belichick, and he's never afraid to learn more football."
Simms ranks 49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo at No. 21 among top 40 QBs
By David Bonilla
Jun 3, 2021
Chris Simms of NBC Sports continues the countdown of his often controversial annual ranking of his top 40 NFL quarterbacks. The San Francisco 49ers were previously represented by rookie Trey Lance, who came in at No. 38. Now we know where starter Jimmy Garoppolo falls within the ranking as teams prepare for the 2021 season.
Simms revealed Nos. 21-25 this week, and Garoppolo sits at No. 21. That is one spot higher than Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"Availability is an issue," Simms notes while discussing Garoppolo's placement during his podcast. "Let's just start right there. ... It's the first thing you have to think about. It's why the 49ers drafted a
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expects DeMeco Ryans to gamble more than Robert Saleh
By Kirk Larrabee
Jun 11, 2021
When the 49ers line up on defense this season under new coordinator DeMeco Ryans, they might be taking more risks than they did over the past four seasons under the guidance of previous coordinator Robert Saleh.
Saleh earned a reputation as one of the league's top defensive coordinators during his time with the 49ers, which he turned into his new opportunity as head coach of the New York Jets. But according to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, Saleh liked to play it safe as a coordinator, which is something that could change this season now that Ryans is in charge.
"I think you'll see DeMeco's personality come out a little bit more," Shanahan told Tim Kawakami of The Athletic
49ers' Kyle Shanahan says Jimmy Garoppolo had his 'best spring,' discusses Trey Lance's progress
By David Bonilla
Jun 9, 2021
Jimmy Garoppolo is trying to fend off anyone from overtaking him on the depth chart — specifically, the No. 3 overall pick, Trey Lance. It sounds like he put in a solid effort during organized team activities, which ended today. The veteran quarterback will look to continue impressing his coaches in training camp at the end of July.
Garoppolo is slated to be the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback when the team kicks off against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 12. Head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke with reporters today and expressed how pleased he is with Garoppolo's performance during the offseason program.
"I think Jimmy had his best spring
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan named Grand Marshal of Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series
By David Bonilla
Jun 3, 2021
The San Francisco 49ers don't practice this weekend. That frees up head coach Kyle Shanahan to do something different. Very different.
According to Ted Ward of Bay Area News Group, Shanahan has been named the Grand Marshal of Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway and will be the one to announce the start of the race.
"Shanahan joins other notable NFL personalities with quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa (Homestead-Miami Speedway) and Derek Carr (Las Vegas Motor Speedway) having been NASCAR grand marshals this season," wrote Ward.
You might not describe Shanahan as a NASCAR die-hard. This
