The San Francisco 49ers concluded the last regular season under head coach Kyle Shanahan on a positive note. Despite reaching a Super Bowl rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs, they fell short, leading to criticism and calls for Shanahan’s dismissal, partly attributed to the “Kirk Cousins curse.”
Amid backlash, particularly concerning the firing of the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, the 49ers head coach finds himself an unexpected role model for UConn basketball’s head coach, Dan Hurley.
Hurley, who recently led UConn to its second consecutive national title, credits Shanahan’s coaching philosophy, especially on offense, for inspiring his team’s success, which he revealed in a podcast with former NBA star JJ Reddick.
“I think the inspiration the last two years, especially this year, is like watching college football now or Shanahan from the NFL, how they’ll have like these formations, obviously the pace and the tempo, of their cuts and their actions,” Hurley said.
UConn’s offense proved dominant throughout the season, contributing significantly to the program’s back-to-back national championships. On the other hand, Shanahan himself has yet to secure a Super Bowl victory with the 49ers. Nevertheless, the overall scenario regarding Shanahan’s dynasty may alter in the upcoming season as they have the opportunity to make the first move in the upcoming NFL draft.
Kyle Shanahan’s team is ready to make moves in the 2024 NFL Draft
Kyle Shanahan’s team find themselves in a different position this year as they enter the NFL Draft with a first-round pick, per AP News. After missing out on the first round for the past two years due to trading up for quarterback Trey Lance in 2021, the team now has the opportunity to address a crucial roster gap on day one of the draft.
In 2021, the Niners traded up from No. 12 to No. 3 to select Lance, sacrificing their first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 in the process. Nevertheless, the move didn’t go as planned, with Lance making just four starts in two seasons and eventually losing his starting position to Brock Purdy. Lance was subsequently traded to the Dallas Cowboys before the start of the season in exchange for a fourth-round pick.
Hence, this year’s draft presents an opportunity for the team to bolster key positions and strengthen their depth for the upcoming season. Now, with the 31st overall selection in the draft, along with nine additional picks over the final two days, the 49ers have the opportunity to add talent to their roster and address areas of need.
