San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan takes a large part of the credit for turning his team into a juggernaut since taking over in 2017.
With the 49ers having double-digit winning seasons in four of the last five years, which includes 13 and 12-win seasons in 2022 and 23, the ultimate exclamation mark on his coaching resume is a Super Bowl trophy.
For all the good that Shanahan has done, and for all the positive words said about him, he still hasn't led his team to the ultimate success.
As such, NFL.com has listed Shanahan as the one who has the most at stake in the Super Bowl LVIII clash against the Kansas City Chiefs .
"There is no disputing Shanahan's offensive wizardry, but the ultra-creative play-designer/play-caller lacks the hardware to validate his overall coaching greatness," NFL.com wrote . "He has failed to close out Super Bowl chances in the past (SEE: the Falcons' infamous meltdown in Super Bowl LI and the 49ers' blown lead in Super Bowl LIV), and the lack of ultimate success leads to questions about his ability to finish off foes in marquee games. Shanahan needs a Super Bowl win to cement his status as a truly elite coach."
In his seven years as 49ers head coach, Shanahan has led his team to become NFC Champions twice but has never hoisted the Lombardi trophy.
With the talent on the 49ers roster, especially offensively with George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Brock Purdy being on a rookie contract, San Francisco has the tools to get it done.
But if Shanahan can't, it will be another failure in the NFL's biggest game of the year, and when the thought that Mahomes and Co. are at their "weakest" this season, if there were ever a time for Shanahan to break through, it would be now.
Questions will remain if he falters again as for all the good he does during the regular season, Shanahan can't seem to get it done in the biggest spot.
Does Shanahan have the most at stake for the upcoming Super Bowl? His coaching persona might be in the firing line if the 49ers succumb to the Chiefs once again.
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