Now entering his 10th season as the 49ers' head coach, Shanahan has led the franchise to two Super Bowl appearances and has firmly established himself as one of the NFL's top offensive minds. While a championship has remained elusive, some critics believe Shanahan could find himself on the hot seat if the 49ers stumble in 2026.
Count tight end George Kittle among those who strongly disagree.
"Anybody that says Kyle Shanahan is on the hot seat, you guys are not the smartest," Kittle said during an interview with USA Today Sports. "It doesn't make any sense to me."
The 49ers battled significant adversity throughout the 2025 season, particularly down the stretch. The team was without stars such as Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and several other key contributors, yet still secured a playoff berth. San Francisco defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round before falling to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round.
Kittle was among the players sidelined by injury, suffering an Achilles injury during that first postseason contest. Even so, he pointed to Shanahan's leadership during that run as evidence of the coach's value.
"The fact that we were able to go to the playoffs, win a road game, and make it to the second round is pretty incredible to me," Kittle said.
As for his own recovery, Kittle remains focused on returning for Week 1, when the 49ers open the season against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. The veteran tight end believes he is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation.
"You need to push it without being an idiot," Kittle said. "Don't be dumb. Do what they tell you to do, you do a little bit extra when you need to do it. I've done my best to find that balance and not cross the line."
The 49ers wrapped up their offseason program last week and will reconvene for training camp in late July.
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