If a San Francisco 49ers fan was to rewind the clock 10 years and go back to the early months of 2016, he or she might recall how the franchise was stuck right in the middle of head-coaching tumult.
Just over a year removed from the "mutual" parting of ways between the Niners and head coach Jim Harbaugh, then having lived through the one-year failed experiment of Jim Tomsula as head coach, CEO Jed York would subsequently pin his hopes on another coaching flameout, Chip Kelly, before ultimately tossing him aside after a 2-14 campaign that year.
That's when Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch entered the fray as head coach and general manager, respectively, with the hope of creating some sort of stability.
2026 will mark the 10th year in which Shanahan and Lynch have been at their respective positions.
So, from that vantage point, stability has been achieved.
In light of the whirlwind that has been the head-coaching carousel entering the new year, it's rather amazing to think San Francisco is now seen as a stable environment when it was viewed as anything but a decade ago.
49ers' stability is a pleasant contrast to current NFL coaching landscape
It's crazy to think there were 10 head-coaching vacancies this offseason, which has happened only once before and has never been surpassed.
The 49ers are keenly aware, having lost defensive coordinator Robert Saleh (again), who's heading east to take over the Tennessee Titans' head-coaching gig.
New head coaches for 2026
- Atlanta Falcons: Kevin Stefanski
- Baltimore Ravens: Jesse Minter
- Buffalo Bills: Joe Brady
- Cleveland Browns: Todd Monken
- Miami Dolphins: Jeff Hafley
- New York Giants: John Harbaugh
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike McCarthy
- Tennessee Titans: Robert Saleh
Additionally, both the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders have yet to land head coaches this offseason.
Interestingly enough, the Ravens' dismissal of Harbaugh and longtime Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stepping down removed two of the NFL's longest-tenured head coaches.
Now, Shanahan is the third longest-tenured head coach, trailing only the Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid by four years and the Los Angeles Rams' Sean McVay by a few weeks.
Stability at head coach is something that's no longer common around the league, and it's become something of a trend for franchises to quickly grow impatient with head coaches if the results aren't there, even successful coaches who just couldn't quite reach the loftiest of lofty expectations.
York used to be one of those impatient owners, true. Niners fans easily recall the franchise's turmoil 10 years ago.
Now, San Francisco is on the polar opposite side of the equation and embracing stability instead.
Ironic.