49ers’ Kyle Shanahan sends confident message about Super Bowl future

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has reached the Super Bowl twice with the franchise—falling short both times. Before arriving in the Bay Area, Shanahan also experienced heartbreak on the NFL's biggest stage as the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator.

While the 49ers head coach is still searching for his first championship, Shanahan believes perspective matters. And history, he says, suggests the story isn't finished.

Shanahan joined NBC's pregame show as a guest analyst ahead of Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots alongside star linebacker Fred Warner. When asked about his Super Bowl experiences, Shanahan offered a lighthearted yet telling response.

"I've been able to be in nine of these—or go to nine," Shanahan said. "I went to six of them with my dad (Mike Shanahan). I went to three of my own. And I just look at it as he got blown out in his first three, and then he won his next three.

"And I've got my three losses out of the way, and maybe if we get Fred back healthy, we've got three wins in front of us."

Kyle Shanahan hopes his coaching career follows a similar arc to his father's, who finally won championships as the 49ers' offensive coordinator (XXIX) and the Denver Broncos' head coach (XXXII, XXXIII).

The 49ers battled significant adversity this past season, particularly with injuries to cornerstone players such as Warner. Despite the setbacks, San Francisco won 12 regular-season games and added a playoff victory before being eliminated by the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks.

Now, the focus shifts to the offseason. The 49ers must retool, get healthy, and find ways to keep pace in a competitive NFC West.