Kyle Shanahan is quietly building a case for Coach of the Year - and it’s getting louder by the week.
The San Francisco 49ers aren’t just winning games; they’re doing it while navigating an injury minefield that would derail most teams. At the bye week, they sit with nine wins, the most conference victories in the NFC, and they’ve dominated a rugged NFC West - all while missing key pieces across the board.
Let’s talk about the reality Shanahan’s been working with. The Niners have been without their starting quarterback, their All-Pro tight end, their top wide receiver, a cornerstone linebacker, and a premier pass rusher for stretches this season. That’s not just adversity - that’s a test of depth, adaptability, and coaching.
And Shanahan has passed with flying colors.
This isn’t simply about the big names. The weekly lineup shuffle has featured players like Sam Okuayinonu, Tatum Bethune, Ben Bartch, Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, and Renardo Green stepping into roles they weren’t expected to fill back in August. Some, like Dominick Puni, have played through injuries that clearly limited their effectiveness - and yet, the machine has kept moving.
The 49ers’ resilience isn’t just anecdotal - the data backs it up. According to Sports Info Solutions, no team in the NFL has lost more potential productivity due to injury than San Francisco.
The metric they use - Total Points lost - measures the impact of injuries based on how much each player was contributing before going down. By that count, the 49ers have lost 156 total points through Week 13, more than any other team in the league.
Here’s how the top five teams stack up in Total Points lost:
- 49ers - 156 points lost
Cardinals - 151 points lost
3.
Bengals - 142 points lost
4.
Commanders - 136 points lost
5.
Dolphins - 123 points lost
It’s a list no team wants to top, but the 49ers are the outlier. While the others are either out of the playoff picture or hanging on by a thread, San Francisco is firmly in postseason position - with more than a 90% chance to make the playoffs.
And it’s not just about who’s been missing - it’s about who’s stepped up. Shanahan and his staff, including defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and special teams coordinator Brian Schneider, have found ways to keep the team competitive week after week. Whether it’s plugging in backups, adjusting schemes, or getting creative with formations, the coaching has been elite.
Let’s not forget the schedule, either. What was once seen as a favorable slate turned into a gauntlet - 13 games against seven teams currently in the playoff hunt. That’s no walk in the park, especially when you’re constantly adjusting your game plan around who’s healthy enough to suit up.
Shanahan has always been respected for his offensive mind, but this season has showcased something even more valuable: leadership under pressure. He’s kept the locker room steady, the team focused, and the standard high - regardless of who’s on the field.
In a season where plenty of teams have been undone by injuries, the 49ers have been defined by their response to them. That’s a credit to Shanahan, his staff, and a roster that’s bought into the “next man up” mentality in the most literal way.
Coach of the Year? It’s more than on the table. If the 49ers keep this up, it might be a lock.