placeholder image

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports


Cowherd: It’s time to start questioning Kyle Shanahan, 49ers a bad organization

Oct 26, 2021 at 6:45 AM--


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
FS1's Colin Cowherd shared his honest opinion about the San Francisco 49ers as an organization during the Kyle Shanahan era, and he didn't pull any punches. With the team's season spiraling out of control, it looks like Shanahan may finish with a losing record for the fourth time in his five years as a head coach.

San Francisco has lost four straight games. Instead of fighting for an NFC West title, as many predicted, the 49ers are fighting with the Seattle Seahawks to stay out of last place in the division.

Many words describe the Niners' 2021 campaign. Disappointing. Embarrassing. Shanahan understands the situation.

"Yeah, you lose four games in a row, I'm the head coach of this team, I expect [criticism], and I deserve it," Shanahan said after Sunday night's 30-18 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. It was a game that many, including Cowherd, probably felt the Niners had no business losing.

"Think about this," Cowherd said while discussing the Colts (h/t to Alex Didion of NBC Sports). "They're a dome team. They played in a monsoon. They were on the road. West coast. Late night. Big TV game. They had major injuries on their offense. They had ugly turnovers early. And yet, they played a brilliant second half. They don't coach scared. They overcome injuries. Frank Reich and this organization rolled the dice on Carson Wentz. He has been terrific."


Many saw the 49ers as a destination. It's an organization that many believed had a strong culture and a brilliant coaching staff. As a result, San Francisco was often lumped into the conversations discussing the elite NFC teams, the contenders. Last season's disappointing season was seen as a fluke, a year marred by injuries.

Maybe it was 2019's Super Bowl run campaign that was the outlier. Cowherd believes that perhaps this is just who the 49ers are under this regime.

"Kyle Shanahan's record now is worse than Mike Singletary's," Cowherd noted. "They're 1-10 at home in the last two years."

Cowherd ran through the typical excuses.

George Kittle is hurt.

"He's always hurt," Cowherd said.

Jimmy Garoppolo is coming off an injury.

"He's always coming off an injury," Cowherd said.

The secondary is beaten up and not playing well.

"That's who you are," Cowherd said. "The secondary is always beat up, and it hasn't been great in four years. They can't solve it."

Then you have the rest of the NFC West. Cowherd argues that it's tough to find any area where the 49ers might be better than their division rivals. He feels the Rams are a better organization with a better roster, fewer draft mistakes, and a better quarterback. In fact, of the four starting quarterbacks in the NFC West, Garoppolo is probably the worst.

Cowherd feels Arizona has more momentum right now and has been better at adding key free agents. The Seahawks may not be doing well right now, but they will eventually get Russell Wilson back.

"San Francisco in their own division, organizationally, roster, they're fourth of four," Cowherd adds. "... And I don't know what it is. This is not a shot at Kyle Shanahan, but he's a very rigid personality, and I watched that team last night. They are coached rigidly. They coach scared.

"Listen, if you're going to coach that way with Jimmy Garoppolo, play Trey Lance, what's the point? What is the point?"

On Monday, Shanahan confirmed with reporters that Garoppolo would be the team's Week 8 starter against the Colts.

"Organizationally, the 49ers have had too many whiffs in the draft," Cowherd continued, "haven't hit on all their free agents. We've got to stop lumping them in with the great teams, just got to keep [Shanahan] off the great coach, great organization, great roster, enough. In their own division, they are [fourth] of four. Worst quarterback, [and] you can make an argument now, worst roster."



Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

Cowherd: Paying Brock Purdy will transform the 49ers into the Cowboys

By David Bonilla
8 hrs

This week, San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York remarked that the team is preparing to offer quarterback Brock Purdy a substantial deal next year. York views this as a "good problem" because it signifies that, after several setbacks, the 49ers have finally identified their franchise signal-caller. "I mean, it's what the market is," York said at the NFL owners meetings. "It's not like Brock is going to ask for something that no one has ever asked for before. You have, I don't know how many players making over $40 million as a quarterback right now." York added, "And whether I like it or not, that's what the market is, and you have to accept the reality of the world. And to me, the


placeholder image

Andy Reid praises 49ers' Brock Purdy, has advice for Kyle Shanahan

By David Bonilla
Mar 25

Super Bowl-winning head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs witnessed all he needed from Brock Purdy last season to assure him that the San Francisco 49ers are in capable hands at the quarterback position. Purdy was an MVP nominee in 2023 and had his 49ers just a play or two away from clinching a Super Bowl victory away from the Chiefs. Unfortunately, for Purdy and the 49ers, Reid and his own quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, widely regarded as the best in the game today, dashed their Super Bowl dreams in overtime last month. According to NBC Sports Bay Area, speaking at the NFL owners meetings on Monday, Reid stated, "Yeah, I


placeholder image

Kyle Shanahan: 49ers hope to keep Brandon Aiyuk, Brock Purdy together

By David Bonilla
Mar 26

Last week, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan ran into his wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, while on vacation in Cabo San Lucas. "He was randomly at our hotel. I don't think he wanted to be," the coach shared on Tuesday while speaking to reporters at the NFL owners meetings. The 49ers are currently negotiating a long-term extension with Aiyuk to ensure he remains with the team for the foreseeable future. However, with it only being March, it's challenging to predict how everything will unfold. Typically, under the leadership of Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, the 49ers have reached agreements with their star players closer to training camp in July. Lynch stated yesterday that the


placeholder image

Kyle Shanahan explains why 49ers promoted Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator

By David Bonilla
Mar 26

After Steve Wilks's dismissal, the San Francisco 49ers had several options for their vacant defensive coordinator position. Although former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley was considered for the role, he ultimately joined the coaching staff as the assistant head coach under head coach Kyle Shanahan. He will focus on game plan preparations while offering his experience to the team. Nick Sorensen, the team's defensive pass game specialist, was awarded the defensive coordinator position. Shanahan opted for an internal candidate, valuing Sorensen's familiarity with the staff and the defensive system. When asked what qualities Sorensen demonstrated to prove he's ready to call plays for the defense, Shanahan explained, "He's worked with a lot of people


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone