However, it wasn't enough to earn Shanahan a top-three spot in the Associated Press' ranking of the NFL's best head coaches.
Shanahan landed at No. 4, trailing Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs, Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams, and Mike Macdonald of the Seattle Seahawks.
Part of the reason may be Shanahan's inability to capture a Super Bowl title. Although he has guided the 49ers to two Super Bowl appearances, San Francisco came up short both times.
"Shanahan is the only coach on the top 5 list who hasn't won a Super Bowl," Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press wrote. "He guided the injury-depleted 49ers to a 12-5 record last season and a Week 18 matchup against Seattle for the No. 1 seed. San Francisco beat Philadelphia on the road in the playoffs before losing to Seattle in the divisional round."
Despite that, Shanahan's résumé continues to place him among the NFL's elite coaches. He owns an 82-67 regular-season record, has led the 49ers to the playoffs in five of the past seven seasons, and is 9-5 in postseason action.
"In nine seasons, Shanahan has led the 49ers to five playoff appearances and two Super Bowl appearances, including an overtime loss to Kansas City," Maaddi added.
The 49ers will once again enter the 2026 season with Super Bowl aspirations. Reaching that goal won't be easy, however, as they'll have to navigate a loaded NFC West featuring the Super Bowl-favorite Rams and the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks.
The Associated Press' top 5 NFL head coaches:
- Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
- Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
- Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
- Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
- Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Nobody's perfect. Did you find a mistake in this article? Report it.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Former 49ers safety makes bold prediction about Kyle Shanahan's offense in 2026
The San Francisco 49ers made a major effort this offseason to improve their wide receiver room. The biggest addition was veteran Mike Evans, who gives quarterback Brock Purdy a reliable boundary and red-zone target unlike any receiver he has had during his NFL career. The... -
49ers' Kyle Shanahan labeled 'best in the business' by NFC West rival coach
The San Francisco 49ers opened last season with a 17-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1. The NFC West rivals didn't meet again until the regular-season finale, when first place in the division and home-field advantage were on the line. This time, the Seahawks went... -
49ers' Brock Purdy left out of ESPN's top-10 quarterback rankings
The debate over where San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy ranks among the NFL's elite continues. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler continued his annual NFL position rankings this week, unveiling his list of the league's top quarterbacks. The rankings are based on feedback from NFL... -
49ers top 5 most intriguing training camp storylines
Training camp for the San Francisco 49ers is right around the corner. The rookies report next Saturday, July 18, while the veterans come to camp the following Saturday, July 25. With all due respect to the Yuletide season, football fans will tell you this is "the most wonderful...