With Matt Eberflus’ tenure as head coach of the Chicago Bears appearing to near its end, fans in the Windy City are eagerly hoping that one of the NFL’s premier offensive minds might soon become available.
Meanwhile, over in the NFC West, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves in an unexpected position, sitting at the bottom of the division with a 5-5 record and a disappointing 1-3 mark in divisional play. This underperformance is particularly shocking given preseason expectations that they were poised to contend for a Super Bowl.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Grant Cohn, the pressure is mounting on head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, as ownership grows frustrated with the team’s lackluster results despite significant offseason spending. Back in September, Cohn emphasized the stakes for Shanahan, often celebrated as an “offensive genius.”
“It’s Super Bowl or bust, and if it’s bust, then heads will roll,” Cohn stated. “The Lynch and Shanahan regime is on the hot seat, hotter than ever. Ownership is upset about the spending this offseason, and they’re going to demand results.”
Hearing whispers about Shanahan’s job security, Bears fans have wasted no time expressing that the current 49ers head coach would be a welcome addition in Chicago.
Bears Fans Want Kyle Shanahan as Their Next Head Coach
Cohn has a point about the 49ers’ big spending spree. Just look at some of their recent blockbuster deals, according to Over the Cap:
– **Nick Bosa**: Five-year extension worth $170 million, including $122.5 million guaranteed.
– **Christian McCaffrey**: Two-year, $38 million extension.
– **Trent Williams**: Three-year, $82.66 million deal, with $48 million fully guaranteed at signing and a $25.69 million signing bonus.
– **Brandon Aiyuk**: Four-year, $120 million contract, with $76 million guaranteed ($45 million fully guaranteed at signing).
– **Deommodore Lenoir**: Five-year, $92 million extension.
With all this spending, it’s fair to wonder about the consequences if the 49ers fall short of expectations. That said, San Francisco also locked in Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch with multiyear extensions in 2023, making it unlikely either will be leaving anytime soon.
The road ahead for the 49ers isn’t exactly smooth, either. Their remaining schedule includes tough games against the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, and Detroit Lions, as well as divisional clashes with the Rams and Cardinals. They’ll also face the Bears on December 8.
For Bears fans, it’s going to be an exciting—and possibly turbulent—ride to the season’s end. Buckle up!
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