Niner Noise
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Comparing 49ers’ rebuild under Bill Walsh to that of Kyle Shanahan, John Lynch

By Timothy L. Miller

Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers with general manager John Lynch (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers with general manager John Lynch (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Joe Montana ( Left) and Steve Young, Quarterbacks for the San Francisco 49ers during the National Football Conference West game against the Kansas City Chiefs on 14 December 1991 at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California, United States. The 49ers won the game 28 – 14. (Photo by Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images)
Joe Montana ( Left) and Steve Young, Quarterbacks for the San Francisco 49ers during the National Football Conference West game against the Kansas City Chiefs on 14 December 1991 at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California, United States. The 49ers won the game 28 – 14. (Photo by Mike Powell/Allsport/Getty Images) /

Bill Walsh is a hall of famer for a reason. The speed at which he made the 49ers relevant is a tribute to his player evaluation and offensive brilliance

Over the first two years of Bill Walsh’s tenure with the 49ers, the team went 2-14 and then 6-10. Walsh had a plan and was abiding by it. He was not perfect and missed on some players like linebacker Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson.

From role players to outright Hall of Famers, Walsh hit when he needed to. Walsh was not only a master manipulator of the draft, but excelled at putting players in positions in which they could exceed.

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This gave him value deep into the draft. By Jan. 25, 1982, the 49ers won their first Super Bowl. This after many losing seasons. What could be felt early in Walsh’s head coaching career was momentum. Even with a few stumbles along the way, Walsh’s early teams felt very much like they were trending in the right direction.

Thus far, the 49ers are 8-18 in the John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan era. The team they inherited, with a 2-14 record in 2017, was no worse than the 2-14 team Walsh inherited in 1979. Those teams share many of the same weaknesses.

Of course, it is very difficult to see the end product while in mid-rebuild. But the current 49ers don’t seem to have progressed at Walsh’s pace. Each rebuild is different with different coaches bringing different strengths. Injuries can derail any teams best-laid plans. And patience must be exhibited for such an arduous task.

Only the ignorant would move on from Shanahan at this stage. Like Walsh, Shanahan has a bright mind for offensive football. Can his team, in year three, make strides close to that accomplished by Walsh at that stage? History is the blueprint for such a task. I believe Lynch and Shanahan are building to spec.

Next. Ranking the 49ers' 15 best first-round NFL Draft picks. dark

The difference will come down to the men at the job-site. Will the right players be found to lay the foundation to construct a champion?