Kyle Shanahan leads 49ers to 6-3 record despite mass injuries

How are the San Francisco 49ers still one of the better teams despite so many first-string players not playing due to so many injuries?

The 49ers have had more injured players in 2025 than any other NFL team, with 72 players appearing on injury reports. The second and third-most-injured teams this year are the Dallas Cowboys (58) and the Buffalo Bills (57). As of the injury updates on Oct. 28, the 49ers have 22 players on their injury roster. Ten are on injured reserve (IR), two are out until further notice, and 10 are questionable to play in the next game.

The most notable injuries are quarterback Brock Purdy (questionable), quarterback Mac Jones (questionable), wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (questionable), wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (out), center Jake Brendal (questionable), linebacker Fred Warner (IR), linebacker Dee Winters (questionable), defensive tackle Jordan Elliott (questionable), and defensive end Nick Bosa (IR).

Tight end George Kittle was out due to a hamstring injury in week one but returned in week seven. Jones, who has been playing since Purdy has been out, suffered a bruised knee during the loss at Houston and is now day-to-day. Purdy and Pearsall are expected to return next week against the New York Giants, but as of right now, they are still questionable to play.

Kyle Shanahan, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, and other members of the coaching staff have done something other teams have struggled to do. With many of their first-string players out, they have been able to mold young offensive and defensive players to step into the spots of the missing players and play well.

The 49ers are known for a strong coaching foundation and talented players. Shanahan has yet to lead the team to a Super Bowl ring, but he has had a ton of success with the 49ers. Since becoming the head coach in 2017, he’s led them to two Super Bowl appearances in 2019 and 2023, four NFC Championship Game appearances, and three division titles.

Shanahan has been in the coaching world for a while, even winning Sporting News Coach of the Year in 2019 and AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year in 2016. He has worked with many teams and has an interesting coaching tree, similar to a family tree, that shows the lineage of coaches and their mentors. From 2004-2005 he worked with Jon Gruden and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the offensive quality control coach, 2006-2009 was with Gary Kubiak with the Texans where he was the wide receivers coach, quarterback coach, and offensive coordinator, 2010-2013 was with his father Mike Shanhan and the Washington Redskins as their offensive coordinator, Mike Pettine with the Cleveland Browns in 2014 as the offensive coordinator, and then worked with Dan Quinn and the Atlanta Falcons from 2015-2016 as their offensive coordinator as well before becoming the 49ers head coach in 2017.

Shanahan has worked with many head coaches, and he has also helped develop other head coaches and assistants across the NFL. Mike McDaniel worked with Shanahan as the 49ers’ offensive coach in 2021 and has been the Miami Dolphins’ head coach since 2022. DeMeco Ryans was a defensive coordinator for the 49ers from 2021 to 2022 before becoming the head coach for the Houston Texans in 2023. Mike LaFleur worked as the passing game and wide receivers coach for the 49ers from 2017 to 2020 and is now the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, and has been there since 2023. Bobby Slowik worked with the 49ers as the defensive quality control coach and offensive passing game coordinator from 2017 to 2022. He then went to the Texans as their offensive coordinator in 2023, but is now working with the Dolphins and McDaniel as their senior pass game coordinator.

Saleh also has an interesting coaching tree. He worked with Dom Capers in 2005 and with Gary Kubiak from 2006-2010 with the Houston Texans, serving as their defensive assistant coach and assistant linebackers coach. From 2011-2013, he worked with Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks as the defensive quality control coach. He’s worked with Gus Bradley and the Jacksonville Jaguars as their linebacker coach from 2014 to 2016. He then worked with Shanahan and the 49ers from 2017 to 2020 as the defensive coordinator before being the New York Jets head coach from 2021 to 2024. Now, he’s back as the defensive coordinator for the 49ers and is doing a great job, even with the situation they are in. Since returning, Saleh has maintained the structure of the 49ers’ crumbling defense and helped the 49ers exceed expectations despite injuries to key players.

After a rough loss to the Texans, the 49ers lost their spot as the NFC West’s number one team; however, they are still in playoff position. Sunday, they earned a crucial 34-24 victory over the New York Giants, behind a stellar offensive performance, remaining firmly in the race for the division crown and, more importantly, a playoff spot.

It is still a long road to the Super Bowl, but we shouldn’t count the 49ers out just yet. With their impressive coaching staff and young talent, they could make a big rebound and make it further than some people think.

Week 9 predictions and results:

Thursday Game: Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins: Baltimore Ravens– 1-0

Sunday Games: San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants: San Francisco 49ers– 2-0

Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans: Los Angeles Chargers– 3-0

Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions: Detroit Lions– 3-1

Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots: New England Patriots– 4-1

Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers: Indianapolis Colts– 4-2

Denver Broncos at Houston Texans: Denver Broncos– 5-2

Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals: Chicago Bears– 6-2

Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers: Green Bay Packers– 6-3

New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams: Los Angeles Rams– 7-3

Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders: Jacksonville Jaguars– 8-3

Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills: Kansas City Chiefs– 8-4

Seattle Seahawks at Washington Commanders: Seattle Seahawks– 9-4

Monday Game: Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys: Dallas Cowboys-TBD