Analyst names massive challenge 49ers' Kyle Shanahan faces in 2024

NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks is among those wondering if head coach Kyle Shanahan will get the San Francisco 49ers to properly refocus on the task at hand following Shanahan's latest football-related heartbreak. 

"It's one of the biggest challenges that Kyle Shanahan will face in terms of getting this team ready to play because the natural inclination is you want to fast forward and get right back to the postseason to see if you can kind of make amends for the shortcomings of the previous year," Brooks said on the "NFL Total Access" program, per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "But it doesn't work like that. They have to redo the entire process."

Under Shanahan, the 49ers lost back-to-back conference championship games before they defeated the Detroit Lions this past January to secure a spot in Super Bowl LVIII. San Francisco then held a 22-19 overtime lead versus the Kansas City Chiefs but couldn't prevent quarterback Patrick Mahomes from guiding his offense down the field for what became a championship-clinching drive. 

"They have to go through training camp and make sure that they're clicking on all cylinders when they hit the regular season," Brooks added about San Francisco's summer. 

Shanahan, of course, is no stranger to bouncing back. He served as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons when the Falcons famously blew a 28-3 lead against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI. Later, his 49ers held a 20-10 advantage over the Chiefs in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LIV, a game Kansas City ultimately won by 11 points. 

"And so the challenge for Kyle Shanahan is: Can I keep this team focused? Can I keep them engaged? Can I keep them locked in to play their best football when their best football is required while they're chalking up enough wins to give themselves a chance to get into the tournament?" Brooks continued. 

Last week, Mike Florio and Chris Simms of NBC Sports openly discussed whether Shanahan might need a fresh start elsewhere if he fails to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy in February 2025. Certain individuals inside San Francisco's locker room may be having similar conversations this spring regarding Shanahan's ability to win the "big one" with the franchise. 

As of Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Niners as the betting favorites at +250 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LIX.