Kyle Shanahan’s playbook has always been more The Godfather than Madden NFL. While other coaches chase combine stars like kids chasing ice cream trucks, Shanahan’s recipe for success leans on a secret sauce: loyalty to his system. Picture a pit master smoking brisket low and slow while rivals microwave steak.

After a rocky 6-11 season—a stumble sharper than Joe Montana’s play-action fake—Shanahan isn’t panicking. Instead, he’s doubling down on his blueprint.

The 49ers unveiled 14 coaching moves Tuesday, blending fresh faces with internal promotions. The headline? Klay Kubiak steps into the offensive coordinator role, replacing the departed Brian Griese. Kubiak, son of Super Bowl-winning coach Gary Kubiak, has been Shanahan’s right-hand man since 2021. His rise mirrors a quarterback sneak…

From defensive quality control coach to orchestrating the NFL’s fourth-ranked passing offense in 2024. Meanwhile, Gus Bradley joins as Assistant Head Coach of Defense, reuniting with DC Robert Saleh. Bradley, architect of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” secondary, brings a résumé thicker than a Midwest casserole. His task?

Fix a defense that ranked 25th against the pass last year. Gus essentially needs to understand the 49ers’ DNA and amplify what they do. Now, let’s have a look at the coaching moves…

Key Coaching Moves

Powering the 49ers’ attack: The 49ers’ offensive brain trust is stacked with experience and fresh perspectives. Chris Foerster, now in his 11th season with the team, steps into a new role as Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line. Under his guidance, the offensive line has helped the team rank third in rushing yards per game (130.8) since 2018, anchoring stars like Trent Williams to three consecutive All-Pro nods. Meanwhile, Mick Lombardi takes over as quarterbacks coach after mentoring Brock Purdy to record-breaking rookie seasons, while Joe Graves transitions to offensive assistant/quarterbacks, building on his work with the offensive line. But there’s more.

Wide receivers coach Leonard Hankerson adds “Passing Game Specialist” to his title, following Brandon Aiyuk’s back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns. Andrew Hayes-Stoker shifts from defense to offensive assistant/wide receivers, and Jacob Webster moves to offensive quality control, rounding out a unit primed to keep the 49ers’ offense humming like a well-tuned engine.

Building a Fortress: On defense, Ray Brown debuts as the defensive backs/cornerbacks coach, bringing 15 years of collegiate experience to a secondary that ranked seventh in passing defense (203.5 yards per game) last season. Greg Scruggs, a two-time Super Bowl champion player, joins as assistant defensive line coach after coaching Wisconsin’s Cotton Bowl-bound unit. Jake Lynch, son of GM John Lynch, arrives as defensive quality control after a stint at Stanford. Special teams?

It gets a boost from Colt Anderson, a former NFL safety turned coordinator, and Ronald Blair III, a Bill Walsh fellow-turned-special teams quality control coach. Patrick Hagedorn, promoted to Chief of Staff, Football, oversees the staff’s daily operations, ensuring all units stay aligned. With these additions, the 49ers’ defense—already a top-10 unit in 2024—aims to tighten its grip like a vise, while special teams look to add more spark to the mix. Meanwhile, Shanahan’s skipping the NFL’s annual flea market in Indianapolis.

The Combine conundrum: Shanahan’s calculated gamble

While rivals flock to Indianapolis, Kyle Shanahan stays put—again. Critics call it arrogance; allies call it focus. “The tape doesn’t lie,” Shanahan has muttered for years. But former protégés like Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel disagree: “I can’t replace that face-to-face energy and human element that is so important in this game.” Even Texans HC DeMeco Ryans, a Shanahan disciple, admits.

Ryans suggests the Combine interviews reveal “their [players’] passion and love for the game of football.” But Shanahan’s absence isn’t new. Since 2020, he’s skipped combine pressers, relying on GM John Lynch to scout. But with 10 draft picks—including No. 11 overall—the stakes feel higher. Besides, Shanahan’s moves echo Bill Walsh’s 1980s ethos.

Stability breeds success. As the 49ers retool, Shanahan’s gamble hinges on trust—in his staff, his system, and his gut. “You dance with who brung ya,” said Darrell Royal once. But in a league where adaptability is king, will doubling down on tradition pay off?

In football, as in life, there are two types of leaders: those who follow the herd and those who herd cats. Shanahan, ever the maverick, bets his legacy on the latter. As Hemingway once wrote, “Courage is grace under pressure.” For Shanahan, the pressure’s mounting. Can his chess moves outmaneuver the checkers’ crowd—or will 2025 be another season of ‘almost‘?