Jason McIntyre isn't necessarily predicting Kyle Shanahan will be fired by the San Francisco 49ers after the 2026 season. But he isn't ruling it out, either. During a recent appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, McIntyre made a bold prediction that either Shanahan or Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur will be fired after the season.

"I believe either Kyle Shanahan or Mr. LeFleur, one of them gets fired," McIntyre said. "I think it's one of those two. They're kind of tied together. Obviously, they have a deep relationship. I think one of them is getting run."


McIntyre did acknowledge that Shanahan is the less likely of the two to lose his job, though. "Shanahan seems like a longer shot to get fired. They love him," he said.

There has been plenty of outside speculation about Shanahan's future over the years, particularly after the 49ers' Super Bowl losses and the team's struggles with injuries. But San Francisco has consistently shown a willingness to stick with its head coach. And for good reason. Shanahan is one of the best coaches in the NFL.

McIntyre's bigger point may actually be the man sitting beside Shanahan on the 49ers' organizational chart. "The GM could be in some trouble," McIntyre said. That would be John Lynch. And if the 49ers do have a disappointing season, it would make sense that the conversation wouldn't necessarily begin and end with Shanahan, especially after what he accomplished last season with a depleted roster.

Shanahan and Lynch have had the 49ers in the Super Bowl twice during their tenure and have remained a consistent postseason contender despite going through some significant roster turnover and an absurd number of injuries. But that doesn't mean they're untouchable. And even though they've been tied to one another for close to a decade, it doesn't mean they both would be under fire if the season goes south.

The 49ers are still expected to compete for the NFC West and contend for a Super Bowl in 2026. There are legitimate questions about the roster, particularly with the number of veteran players who have dealt with injuries and the amount of turnover the team has experienced. The current rookie class looks like a good one. But there have been some big misses the past four or five drafts.


McIntyre has already been skeptical about the direction of the roster. Earlier this year, he suggested the 49ers could even consider trading Christian McCaffrey if the season went sideways, arguing that the team's championship window could be closing.

That doesn't mean Shanahan and Lynch are sitting on a hot seat entering week one. Far from it, especially for Shanahan. His players have consistently backed him, and the organization has shown considerable confidence in him.

But does the same apply to Lynch? If the 49ers miss the playoffs or have another season that falls well short of expectations, it's possible that more attention shifts to the GM. Lynch's role in building the roster would naturally come under scrutiny.

McIntyre ultimately admitted that Shanahan is the "longer shot" to be fired (compared to LaFleur), which seems to be the case. Shanahan is also likely a longer shot to be fired than Lynch.

Fortunately for Shanahan and Lynch, McIntyre has missed on many of his predictions. And in some ways, it's also fortunate for them that the recent arrest of owner Jed York makes Shanahan and Lynch even more valuable. Right now, they represent the most stable part of the organization.

Written By:

Marc Adams


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