Social media has been abuzz with speculation about head coach Kyle Shanahan's job security after the San Francisco 49ers fell to a disappointing 5-6 record, jeopardizing their playoff hopes. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel, however, has dismissed the notion that the coach's job may be on the line, pointing to Shanahan's impressive track record since taking over in Santa Clara.
The 49ers' recent woes include Sunday's embarrassing 38-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, marking their second consecutive defeat. Does the team's struggles put Shanahan on the hot seat?
"I don't think so," Samuel said this week on his podcast, Cleats and Convos. "Kind of, since I've been here, I don't think we had nothing but one losing season. And I think that was Covid. And, you can sit back and you can harp on everybody being injured. That year, I had a broke foot."
Deebo responds to idea that Kyle Shanahan should be on the hot seat:
"Super Bowl... NFC Championship. Year after that: NFC Championship again. Last year: Super Bowl... Why are you saying he's on the hot seat?"
(via Cleats and Convos with Deebo Samuel) pic.twitter.com/grfneyaN7z
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 26, 2024
Samuel pointed to the slew of injuries that plagued the 49ers during the 2020 season, a theme resurfacing this year with several key players sidelined.
"We can harp on injuries, but at the end of the day, that's a part of the game," Samuel continued. "Other than that, you can't show me a losing season that he's had since I've been here. First year, Super Bowl. Second year, I mean, Covid hit. Year after that, NFC Championship. Year after that, NFC Championship again. Last year, Super Bowl. So, it's like, why are you saying he in the hot seat? At the end of the day, we 5-6 right now, but we got like six, seven games ahead.
"And at the end of the day, Kyle is one of the smartest—he like those player coaches that people can ask for. And so, I don't kind of get in the he in the hot seat, he this, he that. But at the end of the day, you can't show me a season where he had a losing season since I've been in the league.
"I just look at it from me going in the building every day. Just see his approach to the game. Even though we kind of behind the eight ball right now, but he don't look at it that way. He's like, if he can start it all over again, this is where he'll want to be."
The 49ers now prepare for a challenging Sunday night road matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium, hoping to reignite their playoff chances.
