Kyle Shanahan has never been one to sugarcoat things - and during his appearance on NBC’s Super Bowl LX pregame coverage, the 49ers head coach was as candid as ever. When asked about the toughest defenses he faced this season, Shanahan didn’t hesitate: the Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans.
That’s high praise coming from one of the sharpest offensive minds in football. Shanahan’s system has carved up plenty of defenses over the years, but in 2025, Seattle and Houston gave him fits - and he made sure to let everyone know it.
“I think there’s two Super Bowl defenses this year,” Shanahan said. “And when I say that, it means they’re capable of winning totally on their own if the other side of the ball, special teams and offense, don’t mess it up.”
That’s not just a compliment - that’s a blueprint. Shanahan knows what it looks like when a defense can carry a team, and it sure sounds like he wants that kind of firepower in San Francisco.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about throwing his own defense under the bus. The 49ers have plenty of talent on that side of the ball, especially when healthy.
But what Seattle and Houston showed this season was something different - a level of dominance that tilted the field, dictated tempo, and took over games. Shanahan saw it up close, and he’s clearly still thinking about it.
Seattle, in particular, left a mark. The Seahawks won two of three matchups against the 49ers in 2025, including a critical late-season game that helped propel them to a Super Bowl run.
And they didn’t just win - they smothered one of the league’s most potent offenses in the process. That kind of performance doesn’t go unnoticed, especially not by a coach like Shanahan, who’s built his career on out-scheming the opposition.
It’s not hard to read between the lines here. Shanahan’s comments may have been directed at the national audience, but they also sounded like a subtle message to his own front office - namely, general manager John Lynch. If the 49ers want to get back to the Super Bowl and finish the job, they might need to invest even more heavily on the defensive side of the ball.
Of course, injuries played a big role in the 49ers’ 2025 season. They were without several key defenders for long stretches, including former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa and All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner. Getting those two back at full strength in 2026 would be a massive boost - and could go a long way toward closing the gap between San Francisco and the elite defenses Shanahan just praised.
But still, the message was clear: in today’s NFL, a truly dominant defense can be the ultimate trump card. Shanahan’s seen it firsthand. Now the question is whether the 49ers can build one of their own.