The fans are turning on Kyle Shanahan. Many more than usual, at least. Even the head coach acknowledges that he is deserving of the scrutiny after the San Francisco 49ers' 2-4 start.
"Yeah, you lose four games in a row, I'm the head coach of this team, I expect [the criticism], and I deserve it," Shanahan told reporters after Sunday night's embarrassing 30-18 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Losing is a fast way to get a fanbase to turn on you. Once considered one of the brightest young minds in football, Shanahan may be running out of excuses. Yes, he took the Niners to a Super Bowl during the 2019 season, but that is starting to look like the outlier rather than any of his three previous losing seasons — including last year's injury-plagued campaign.
The 49ers were supposed to be contending for the NFC West title. Just seven weeks in, they find themselves in the basement of the division, hidden behind the Russell Wilson poster and the Pete Carroll bobblehead in the corner. Upstairs, the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams are racing for the top spot, leaving Shanahan and his once-hyped squad forgotten.
We asked fans on Twitter if Shanahan should be on the hot seat. After all, the division looks out of reach, and the playoffs may be wishful thinking. Most fans believe Shanahan's job should not be as secure as the organization has often let on.
Below are the poll results so far, with less than 30 percent of fans believing Shanahan absolutely should not be on the hot seat, as of this post.
Should the #49ers put Kyle Shanahan on the hot seat?
— 49ers Webzone (@49erswebzone) October 25, 2021
Time is running out for the 49ers. They'll need to find a spark this weekend, on the road, against the Chicago Bears, who are coming off a two-game losing streak and looking to right their own ship.