Kyle Shanahan has been heralded in the media as one of the NFL’s elite offensive minds for over a decade now, both in his various stops as an offensive coordinator and since taking the 49ers’ head job in 2017.

But it’s not just NFL analysts who hold Shanahan in such high regard — so do his coaching peers within the league.

According to a recent survey by The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen, a group of six anonymous defensive coaches from around the NFL ranked Shanahan as the league’s No. 1 offensive play caller entering the 2025 season.

The 45-year-old was rated above his longtime friend and division rival, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, and two-time Super Bowl nemesis, Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who were listed at No. 2 and No. 4, respectively.

Shanahan’s defensive peers explained what separates the 49ers coach from the rest, highlighting San Francisco’s unique personnel and his advanced understanding of opposing defensive players and schemes.

The addition of dominant running back Christian McCaffrey, particularly, has elevated Shanahan’s offense, allowing the 49ers to run an almost positionless scheme alongside their other versatile skill position players.

“They challenge all your rules,” an NFC defensive coordinator told Nguyen. “They’re obviously 21 personnel, but whatever you try to do, they always have an answer for it because they can align in anything out of that personnel. So if you don’t go base defense and try to match them in nickel, then they have all the answers or they can run it. And then if you do go base, you’re really limited coverage-wise and you always have to worry about the matchup on McCaffrey.”

Shanahan also possesses an elite ability to expose the shortcomings of opposing defenses, whether it’s a flaw in a pass coverage concept or a player who is a weak link.

“(Shanahan) understands defense,” the coordinator explained. “He understands your rules, and he tries to manipulate your rules. … He will look at everything about each defensive player, see where they’re susceptible and just try to figure out where they can get a step.”

Though these coaches ranked Shanahan as the best in his class, they still noted a weakness in pass protection within his scheme. Veteran 49ers left tackle Trent Williams arguably is the best pass protector in the NFL, but opposing defensive play-callers have found avenues to attack the rest of San Francisco’s relatively average offensive line.

As the 49ers’ roster evolves following the departures of Deebo Samuel and several defensive contributors, Shanahan’s continued ability to elevate the team with his play-calling will be under increased pressure in 2025.

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