Kyle Shanahan finds himself ahead of Mike Vrabel and Doug Pederson in Pro Football Talk's ranking of the top 10 NFL head coaches for 2023. The San Francisco 49ers head coach landed at No. 8 on the list. He could have been higher if not for one factor over his six NFL seasons.
Shanahan can't seem to solidify the quarterback situation in Santa Clara.
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio praises the roster that Shanahan and general manager John Lynch built during their time with the team. However, the 49ers seem to have repeatedly stumbled while trying to figure out the most important position in the game.
"[Shanahan] opted not to scout Patrick Mahomes in 2017, assuming the team would sign Kirk Cousins in free agency a year later," Florio wrote. "Then, before they could sign Cousins, the 49ers traded for Jimmy Garoppolo, who could not consistently stay healthy."
Last month, Florio made headlines when he predicted that Shanahan's love for Cousins might lead to a pursuit of the Minnesota Vikings quarterback in 2024. Of course, that depends on what happens this season. Brock Purdy is still recovering from his March surgery to repair his right arm's torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). He has started only eight NFL games, so it's too early to crown him the answer at quarterback. Trey Lance has started half that amount and has fallen down the depth chart after being named the starter ahead of last season.
If Purdy struggles, Florio believes the 49ers could revisit the possibility of adding Cousins.
"If Shanahan had either scouted (and selected) Mahomes or waited for Cousins, the 49ers quite possibly would have two or more additional Lombardi Trophies to go with their prior five," Florio wrote. "And Shanahan would be No. 1 on this list or damn close to it. ... For now, with a 52-46 regular-season record and one Super Bowl appearance in six NFL seasons, Shanahan sits at No. 8."