placeholder image

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports


Peter King names 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan his Coach of the Week

Nov 29, 2021 at 11:01 AM--


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
The San Francisco 49ers have managed to turn things around in recent weeks, winning three of their last four games and scoring 30-or-more points in each of those victories. It's been quite a turnaround for a team that looked to be spiraling downward about a month ago. If the season ended today, the 49ers would be No. 6 seed in the NFC and are now just a game back of the Los Angeles Rams, who have lost three straight.

Much of the credit for the 49ers' turnaround has to go to head coach Kyle Shanahan, who was heavily criticized by fans not too long ago.

"Yeah, you lose four games in a row, I'm the head coach of this team, I expect [the criticism], and I deserve it," Shanahan said on October 24 after an embarrassing loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

The 49ers' season looks brighter now. Longtime scribe, Peter King, named Shanahan his Coach of the Week in his latest Football Morning in America column for NBC Sports.

"The season was on the brink three weeks ago this morning," wrote King. "The Niners had just lost to Arizona to fall to 0-4 at home and 3-5 overall, and the big, bad Rams were due in Santa Clara the following Monday. Shanahan was 34-41 as a head coach, and he seemed headed to his fourth losing season out of five.

"In the three games since, the Niners have been one of football's most efficient teams, turning it over once, scoring 31, 31, and 34 points, and running for 536 yards in those three wins. Shanahan has managed Jimmy Garoppolo superbly, and the embattled quarterback is playing his best since midway through 2019."

Next up for San Francisco are the 3-7 Seattle Seahawks, who always play the 49ers tough and have won the last three contests between the two teams and four of the previous five. After that, it will be the Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, and Rams to close out the season.

"Strong run game with the Niners' last pick in the 2021 draft, Elijah Mitchell, forced into action and playing great (693 yards, 4.8 per rush), under the tutelage of 72-year-old running backs coach Bobby Turner," King added. "And Jimmy Garoppolo, the undisputed starter, has turned it over once in the last three games—not coincidentally, all wins."

The 49ers didn't escape the Vikings game unscathed. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who has looked more like a running back in recent weeks, is undergoing an MRI for a groin injury. Linebacker Fred Warner is also being examined after exiting the game with a hamstring injury.

"The Niners cannot afford Deebo Samuel's groin injury to be serious," King noted. "He's turned into a first-class phenom, averaging 18.0 yards per catch and 8.1 yards per rush. Road games at the Bengals, Titans and Rams will test them, but I see the Niners as a threatening sixth seed in a weakened NFC."



Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

ESPN names 49ers as best fit for Tre'Davious White

By David Bonilla
Mar 20

Following the initial flurry of free agency activity, ESPN's Bill Barnwell took a closer look at the remaining unsigned players, identifying ideal landing spots for each. Among the prospects, cornerback Tre'Davious White found himself connected with the San Francisco 49ers as a prime fit. The Buffalo Bills, who selected White with the No. 27 overall pick in 2017, released the cornerback on March 13. The 49ers would love to bolster the defensive backfield, finding a better option to pair on the outside with Charvarius Ward and allowing Deommodore Lenoir to find a permanent home in 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