San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York spoke with Kay Adams on Tuesday, making it clear who he believes deserves NFL Coach of the Year—and the answer is no surprise: head coach Kyle Shanahan.
"I think Kyle deserves to win Coach of the Year," York said. "I think that's a no-brainer. We had so many things come up that we were able to overcome, and I think [that is] a testament to Kyle."
"Kyle [Shanahan] deserves to win Coach of the Year... This reminds me of the old-school 49ers where it really was the next man up philosophy."
49ers owner Jed York says this year's squad reminds him of the Bill Walsh era 👀@JedYork | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/yE8FrSqI1e
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 3, 2026
Despite an injury-marred 2025 season, the 49ers overcame adversity, won 12 games, and returned to the playoffs in what many consider one of Shanahan's most impressive coaching performances. The 49ers remained competitive even after losing several stars.
York acknowledged that the team will look different in 2026 after losing defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, now the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, but he expects the 49ers to remain competitive. He credited Shanahan and the team's leadership for instilling an "old-school" mentality throughout the organization.
"Obviously, Saleh, I'm bummed to lose him, but super happy for him that he's back as a head coach," York said. "I don't know that he should have lost a head coaching job (with the Jets) in the first place, but he showed you how special he is.
"But we also have a team that fights for each other. And this reminds me of the old-school 49ers, where it really was the next-man-up philosophy. And if you lost somebody, the next man had to step up. And that's something that Bill Walsh really instilled into the organization, into the locker room."
York added that this type of mentality has become rare in the NFL today and is grateful to see it within the 49ers organization.
"I don't know that you see that as much today as what you did in the 80s and 90s, but I'm proud of our guys for stepping up, and we'll keep fighting," he said. "I have every expectation that we will be back."
With Shanahan leading the way and the right mindset inside the locker room, the 49ers could be poised to remain a competitive force in 2026.
Comments