The San Francisco 49ers didn’t just bow out of the playoffs-they were steamrolled. A 41-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks brought their season to a screeching halt, marking one of the most lopsided playoff defeats in franchise history. But as painful as that scoreboard was, the real gut punch might be what’s happening off the field in the days ahead.
49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan on the possibility of losing both Robert Saleh and Klay Kubiak. pic.twitter.com/8MsbZEKhi4
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) January 18, 2026
Head coach Kyle Shanahan is staring down the very real possibility of losing not one, but both of his top coordinators-defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak. And if that happens, the ripple effects could be felt well into next season.
“They've been unbelievable. I love both those guys,” Shanahan said postgame.
“Two as good of coaches as I've been around. I know both of them will be head coaches, whether it's in a week or so, or whether it's over the next two years.”
That’s not just lip service. Saleh is already in the mix for multiple head coaching jobs, including a virtual interview with the Tennessee Titans.
He’s also drawing serious attention from the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins. Kubiak, meanwhile, has emerged as a top candidate for openings with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders.
And let’s be clear-losing both coordinators in the same offseason would be a massive blow. This isn’t just about filling vacancies. It’s about replacing the architects of a system that, despite its collapse in Seattle, helped guide the 49ers through a season filled with adversity.
The numbers from the playoff loss paint a grim picture. The offense mustered just 236 total yards.
Brock Purdy, who had shown flashes of poise throughout the year, was held to 140 passing yards and threw a costly interception. The defense, usually the backbone of this team, got gashed on the ground-116 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III.
But Shanahan wasn’t about to let one disastrous afternoon erase what his staff accomplished over the course of the season.
“They’ve been through a lot and found ways to keep us competitive,” he said. “We’re lucky to have those guys. And for our sake, I hope I will still have them next year.”
That’s the tightrope Shanahan is walking now. The 49ers' season may have ended with a thud, but the next challenge is already underway-one that won’t be decided on the field. The coaching carousel is spinning fast, and San Francisco is right in the middle of it.
If Shanahan can somehow keep his staff intact, it would be a major win in an offseason that’s already off to a rough start. But if Saleh and Kubiak do move on, the 49ers will have to rebuild not just their game plan-but the very foundation of their coaching identity.