The San Francisco 49ers are entering their Week 18 and 2025 regular season finale against the Seattle Seahawks in an unfathomable spot.
Despite all of the injuries to Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall, Brandon Aiyuk, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, and many others, the 49ers are one win away from the NFC West title.
Amid such an impressive season, ESPN writer Nick Wagoner strongly calls on the NFL to give Shanahan the NFL's Coach of the Year award, as the longtime 49ers coach is "long overdue" for the honor.
Why 49ers' Kyle Shanahan deserves NFL Coach of the Year Award
"Kyle Shanahan is long overdue to be the NFL Coach of the Year," Wagoner writes. "Shanahan has nearly won the award twice -- finishing second in 2019 and 2022 -- but this is his best work yet."
Shanahan has the 2025 49ers at 12-4 entering Week 18, just one win from the NFC West, and from the NFC's number 1 seed.
With all of the injuries this season and a lot of roster turnover this past offseason, the production of the team in 2025 has been remarkable.
While Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears, Liam Coen of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots, and Mike Macdonald of the Seahawks have had impressive seasons, no one has been nearly as impressive as Shanahan.
They've all had plenty go their way. Shanahan has dealt with Aiyuk essentially quitting on the team, Purdy missing significant time, and the team's best two defenders going down to season-ending injuries early in the year.
But, despite all of the problems thrown their way, the 49ers are one win from being the top team in the NFC and having the inside track to the Super Bowl.
A win in Week 18 would cement his status as the best coach this season, but even if he comes up short, he's done more than enough to deserve the award for what he's done with so little this season.
If nothing else, Shanahan has proven once again that he's one of, if not the best, coaches in the NFL with his strong 2025 season.
More 49ers News:
- 49ers' Kendrick Bourne has hilarious reaction to being 1-yard away from $500,000
- Brock Purdy ends 22-year 49ers drought with historic performance vs. Bears
- 49ers playoff picture: How win over Bears impacts NFC West race, San Francisco's chances at No. 1 seed
- Brock Purdy's dance moves have 49ers fans fired up after massive win over Bears
- Bears vs. 49ers final score, result: San Francisco outguns Chicago in 'Sunday Night Football' shootout