San Francisco 49ers Coaches

Kyle Shanahan was named the 20th head coach of the San Francisco 49ers on February 6, 2017. Shanahan signed a multi-year contract extension with the 49ers on June 15, 2020.

In 2019, he was named Coach of the Year by Sporting News and NFC Coach of the Year by the Committee of 101 after leading the 49ers to a 13-3 regular season record, the NFC West Division Title and an appearance in Super Bowl LIV. San Francisco’s nine-win improvement from 2018 to 2019 was the largest win improvement from one season to the next in franchise history. The 49ers became one of three teams since the NFL switched to a 12-team playoff format in 1990 to finish 4-12 or worse one season followed by earning the number one seed in its conference the next season (1999 St. Louis Rams & 2016 Dallas Cowboys).

Richard Hightower is in his 14th season in the NFL and fourth as the 49ers special teams coordinator. He returned to San Francisco in 2017 after previously serving as assistant special teams coach with the team in 2015.

From 2017-19, the 49ers kicking unit ranked first in the NFL in made field goals (102) and fourth in field goal percentage (89.5). In addition, San Francisco’s punt coverage ranked second over that timespan, holding opponent punt returns to an average of 5.7 yards per return (Ind. – 5.0).

In 2019, Hightower led the 49ers special teams unit that had an average starting field position of the 32.1 yard line in 2019, ranking second in the NFL (NE - 32.7). San Francisco also held opponents to an average starting field position of the 24.7 yard line, which ranked seventh. K Robbie Gould connected on 23 of 31 field goal attempts and finished the season with 110 points, marking his third-consecutive 100-or-more point season with the 49ers. He was also named Special Teams Player of the Month for December for the third-consecutive season since joining the 49ers in 2017. Rookie P Mitch Wishnowsky registered a 44.9 punt average which ranked second among all rookies in franchise history (min. 20 punts). WR Richie James Jr. ranked seventh in the NFL in punt return average (8.0) and 10th in kickoff return average (21.4).

Mike LaFleur is in his fourth season with the 49ers and third as the team’s passing game coordinator. He previously served as the team’s wide receivers/passing game coordinator in 2018 and wide receivers/passing game specialist in 2017.

In 2019, the 49ers had 13 different players with at least one touchdown reception on the season, which tied the NFL record for the most players with a touchdown reception in a single season. TE George Kittle’s game continued to improve as he was named Associated Press First-Team All-Pro, PFWA All-NFL and All-NFC and was selected as a starter in the Pro Bowl. Kittle led the team with 85 receptions for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns. He became just the fifth player in franchise history, and the first tight end, to have multiple 1,000-yard seasons, joining WR Jerry Rice (12), WR Terrell Owens (5), WR Anquan Boldin (2) and WR John Taylor (2). Rookie WR Deebo Samuel registered 57 receptions for 802 yards and three touchdowns while also adding 14 carries for 159 yards (11.4 average) and three touchdowns. His 57 receptions and 802 receiving yards each ranked second among all rookies in franchise history. WR Kendrick Bourne tallied 30 receptions for 358 yards and a career-high five touchdowns.

Mike McDaniel is in his fourth season with the 49ers and third as the run game coordinator. He previously served as the team’s run game specialist in 2017.

While working with running backs coach Robert Turner Jr. and offensive line coach John Benton, the 2019 San Francisco 49ers led the NFL with 23 rushing touchdowns and ranked second in rushing yards per game (144.1). The 49ers ground attack featured three players with 500-or-more rushing yards in a single season (RB Raheem Mostert – 772; RB Matt Breida – 623; RB Tevin Coleman – 544) for just the second time in franchise history (1954 - three players). In 1954, three of the four members of the “Million Dollar Backfield” had more than 500 rushing yards in Joe Perry (1,049), John Henry Johnson (681) and Hugh McElhenny (515). FB Kyle Juszczyk was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fourth-consecutive season. In the postseason, the 49ers averaged 204.0 rushing yards per game as Mostert led the way with 336 yards and five touchdowns on 36 carries (6.3 average).

Robert Saleh (SAH-luh) is in his 16th NFL season and fourth as the 49ers defensive coordinator.

In 2019, Saleh was named Coordinator of the Year by Sporting News after leading the 49ers defense to rank second in the NFL in total yards allowed per game (281.8), the fewest total yards allowed per game by the team since 1997 (250.8). San Francisco ranked first in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (169.2), the fewest passing yards allowed per game in the NFL since 2009 (NYJ - 153.7). It marked the first time San Francisco led the NFL in passing yards allowed per game since 1987 (165.6). The 49ers ranked tied for second in the NFL in third-down percentage allowed (33.3) and tied for fifth in the NFL in sacks (48.0), the most by the team in a single season since 1998 (51.0). San Francisco also ranked seventh in both opponent completion percentage (61.3) and opponent quarterback rating (83.0).

Jon Embree is in his fourth season as the 49ers assistant head coach/tight ends coach.

Under Embree’s guidance, TE George Kittle’s game continued to improve in 2019 as he was named Associated Press First-Team All-Pro, PFWA All-NFL and All-NFC and was selected as a starter in the Pro Bowl. Kittle led the team with 85 receptions for 1,053 yards and five touchdowns. He became just the fifth player in franchise history, and the first tight end, to have multiple 1,000-yard seasons, joining WR Jerry Rice (12), WR Terrell Owens (5), WR Anquan Boldin (2) and WR John Taylor (2). Kittle also set the NFL record for the most receiving yards by a tight end through their first three seasons (2,945), surpassing TE Mike Ditka (2,774), who held the record since 1963.