49ers fans can't wrap their minds around this shocking Kyle Shanahan trend

Despite all his positive traits, Kyle Shanahan just can't seem to figure out this one glaring issue that's plagued him for years.

The San Francisco 49ers have enjoyed all kinds of success under head coach Kyle Shanahan ever since he took over duties in 2017.

Sure, Shanahan has his faults, and the Niners have repeatedly failed to secure their sixth Lombardi Trophy during that tenure despite having a plethora of talent on both sides of the ball.

While far from perfect, Shanahan nevertheless stands in stark contrast to the two head coaches who preceded him, Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly, whose comparisons would make even the staunchest Shanahan critic admit San Francisco is better off with the latter.

All that said, though, Shanahan has a very troubling trend.

He and 10-point leads are not friends. At all.

Shanahan's 49ers have already reinforced this point twice this season, coughing up (multiple) double-digit leads in the Week 3 loss against the Los Angeles Rams, then again by losing a 10-plus-point lead in Week 5 versus the Arizona Cardinals.

Sadly, the recent string of 10-point events isn't an anomaly.

Shanahan is known for his offensive ingenuity. From all accounts, including those told to Niner Noise by various players over the years, Shanahan commands the respect of his players, too, who appreciate his no-nonsense approach with them.

However, even the best head coaches have flaws. Shanahan's history with 10-point leads is certainly one of his, and the numbers prove it.

Kyle Shanahan has most blown 10-point leads in 49ers history... by a lot

Without knowing the exact figures, most Niners fans can attest to Shanahan having trouble "finishing the job" when it comes to 10-point leads in games. Not only has this trend accompanied Shanahan during the regular season, but his teams have also blown double-digit leads in both Super Bowl losses to the Kansas City Chiefs. And those memories weigh on fans' minds.

Turns out, the numbers justify the sentiments.

As the Associated Press' Josh Dubow compiled, Shanahan is the far-and-away leader among San Francisco head coaches, in terms of losses that involved squandering a 10-point lead:

1. Kyle Shanahan: 18
2. Bill Walsh 8
3. Dick Nolan 8
4. Steve Mariucci 6
5. Buck Shaw 6

Granted, Shanahan already has a long tenure. He'll soon surpass both Nolan and Shaw for most 49ers games coached, soon trailing only George Seifert and Walsh. So, the more opportunities to lose such games, the higher the number will eventually be.

However, Walsh suffered only eight such defeats over his lengthy span that lasted 152 regular-season games, not including the postseason, so it's fair to wonder if Shanahan simply lacks that "killer instinct" late in games.

"When you have a lead on people, you need to finish them," Shanahan said in his post-Week 5 press conference. "The way you finish people is you continue to score. And if you aren't doing that, you can't turn it over, and you've got to stop people at the end."

OK, how?

Some feel the losses stem from Shanahan's reluctance to run the ball and grind down the clock. Although that was mitigated largely by Arizona deploying a five- and six-man defensive front in Week 5. Others, meanwhile, cite Shanahan's inconsistent play-calling in the red zone, which has been dreadful thus far through 2024.

While his comments on avoiding losses that follow 10-point leads make sense, the numbers don't lie.

It's a problem, one the head coach hasn't been able to shake.

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