The Kyle Shanahan Hiring Is Already Paying Dividends for 49ers
By Robert Smith
With Kyle Shanahan’s six-year contract, the rebuild for the 49ers is long term. But with solid free-agent signings, the team is already seeing the rewards from his hiring.
It used to be simple. Bring free agents in to the Bay Area, show them the Lombardi Trophies and, before you know it, they were signing on the dotted line.
With a nearly two-decade run of unparalleled success, and a recent three-year run of success in the Jim Harbaugh years, players wanted to be a part of something special.
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However, after Harbaugh’s departure, and the failed tenures of former 49ers coaches Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly, the franchise seemed to be sinking fast.
Add to that the perception of a disorganized front office and clueless ownership, and you had all the makings of the sinking of the Titanic.
Enter Kyle Shanahan.
The former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator has brought with him an innovative, proven offensive mind and a track record of success in building offensive schemes that accentuates the players in his system.
In his three years in Atlanta, Shanahan was able to bring the Falcons offense from averaging 23.8 points per game to a league-high 33.8 last year, and driving quarterback Matt Ryan from a solid NFL starter to the league’s MVP.
In the NFL, word travels fast. Players who played in his system in the past, and those that have seen the success he’s had with different types of quarterbacks (Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, Matt Schaub, Matt Ryan) are choosing to play in the Bay Area once again.
And that has 49ers fans excited for the first time in quite a while.
Not only are the fans enthusiastic, but the new additions are as well.
Pierre Garcon, the former Washington Redskin receiver who recently signed a three- year deal to join the 49ers, said as much in a recent interview with Joe Fann of 49ers.com.
“Kyle Shanahan,” the veteran receiver said, smiling. “That’s it. Kyle Shanahan was the sales pitch.”
“Kyle Shanahan,” the veteran receiver said, smiling. “That’s it. Kyle Shanahan was the sales pitch.”- Pierre Garcon
And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out quarterback Brian Hoyer may feel the same about his opportunity to work with Shanahan once again after the two were paired in Cleveland and Hoyer had arguably his best season as a starter there.
Per ESPN.com, he threw for 3,326 yards, the most off his career, and an NFL-leading 13.7 yards per completion to boot.
Former Baltimore Ravens coordinator Gary Kubiak ran similar plays with fullback Kyle Juszczyk in the backfield, and Garcon and Hoyer have both directly worked with Shanahan. That will aide in these players teaching the concepts and explaining them to the players around them, easing the learning curve.
Add speedster (and former Bills receiver) Marquise Goodwin to the mix, and you can begin to see the building of a roster that is NFL caliber.
With Shanahan having league-wide respect from quite a few players, and his ability to be creative and draw the most of the players he has in his system, the excitement is beginning to build in Santa Clara.
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If the Niners are able to improve and find a measurable amount of success next season, the team may see future high-profile free agents flocking to the Bay Area once again from the lure of this historic franchise.