The beginning of the 2025 NFL season has not been an easy road for the 49ers. 

Three road games. Close finishes. Injuries galore. 

But the 49ers hold first place in the NFC West and a 4-1 record. Colin Cowherd believes this is all credit to coach Kyle Shanahan. 

 “I think Kyle Shanahan is having his best year as a coach,” Cowherd said recently on FS1’s “The Herd.” “They don’t have [quarterback Brock] Purdy, [wide receiver Brandon] Aiyuk, [tight end George] Kittle, [wide receiver Jauan] Jennings, [defensive end] Nick Bosa. They’re 3-0 on the road.” 

The injuries to most of the 49ers’ star power that Cowherd highlights usually is a death knell for NFL teams. Purdy playing in just two of San Francisco’s five games is especially glaring. 

The 49ers are undefeated with backup quarterback Mac Jones filling in for Purdy, a feat Cowherd believes owes credit to Shanahan.

“Mac Jones looks like a Pro Bowler. This is great coaching,” Cowherd continued. “They’re the only team averaging 40 passes a game. Think about that, with Mac Jones. There’s no substitute teacher here.” 

Jones posted a 20-29 record as a starting quarterback in his previous four NFL seasons before joining San Francisco. This season, he is 3-0 and is averaging a career-high 301.7 passing yards per game. 

Despite the backups performing up to standard, the 49ers hardly can afford to lose another star player. The only concern Cowherd posited for San Francisco was running back Christian McCaffrey’s usage. 

“Christian McCaffrey [is] touching it more than I want him to. Cross your fingers on his health,” Cowherd cautioned. “But coaching matters and Shanahan could be Coach of the Year right now. He’s coaching his butt off.” 

Per Fanatics Sportsbook, Shanahan currently holds the fourth-best odds (+900) to win this season’s Coach of the Year award. He sits behind Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen (+300), Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen (+400) and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel (+750). 

Shanahan and the 49ers are two wins away from matching last season’s win total, when they went 6-11 and missed the NFL playoffs. 

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