Kyle Shanahan came up short in his bid for 2025 AP NFL Coach of the Year, but he might have finished even lower than most 49ers fans anticipated.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel won the award after a stellar first season with New England, snagging 19 first-place votes and a total 302 points. Shanahan finished in fifth place, receiving only six first-place votes and 140 total points despite a 2025 NFL season that exceeded expectations.
AP NFL Coach of the Year:
1. Mike Vrabel 302 points, 19 first-place votes
2. Liam Coen 239 16
3. Mike Macdonald 191 8
4. Ben Johnson 145 1
5. Kyle Shanahan 140 6
— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) February 6, 2026
Finishing ahead of Shanahan were Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson, Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald and Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen.
Shanahan led the 49ers to an impressive 12-5 record despite a flurry of injuries the team experienced throughout the 2025 regular season.
As the No. 6 seed, San Francisco defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC wild-card playoff round but fell short against the Seahawks in the divisional playoff round.
Shanahan came close to winning the NFL Coach of the Year award twice as the runner-up in 2019 and in 2022. The competition was a little bit more stiff this season, but after all the adversities he dealt with and overcame throughout the 2025 season, Shanahan still can be proud of his head-coaching performance.
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