ClutchPoints logo
    • NBA
    • Eastern
      Atlantic
    • Boston Celtics
    • Brooklyn Nets
    • New York Knicks
    • Philadelphia 76ers
    • Toronto Raptors
    • Central
    • Chicago Bulls
    • Cleveland Cavaliers
    • Detroit Pistons
    • Indiana Pacers
    • Milwaukee Bucks
    • Southeast
    • Atlanta Hawks
    • Charlotte Hornets
    • Miami Heat
    • Orlando Magic
    • Washington Wizards
    • Western
      Pacific
    • Golden State Warriors
    • Los Angeles Clippers
    • Los Angeles Lakers
    • Phoenix Suns
    • Sacramento Kings
    • Southwest
    • Dallas Mavericks
    • Houston Rockets
    • Memphis Grizzlies
    • New Orleans Pelicans
    • San Antonio Spurs
    • Northwest
    • Denver Nuggets
    • Minnesota Timberwolves
    • Oklahoma City Thunder
    • Portland Trail Blazers
    • Utah Jazz
    • NFL
    • AFC
      West
    • Denver Broncos
    • Kansas City Chiefs
    • Los Angeles Chargers
    • Las Vegas Raiders
    • South
    • Houston Texans
    • Indianapolis Colts
    • Jacksonville Jaguars
    • Tennessee Titans
    • North
    • Baltimore Ravens
    • Cincinnati Bengals
    • Cleveland Browns
    • Pittsburgh Steelers
    • East
    • Buffalo Bills
    • Miami Dolphins
    • New England Patriots
    • New York Jets
    • NFC
      West
    • Arizona Cardinals
    • Los Angeles Rams
    • San Francisco 49ers
    • Seattle Seahawks
    • South
    • Atlanta Falcons
    • Carolina Panthers
    • New Orleans Saints
    • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    • North
    • Chicago Bears
    • Detroit Lions
    • Green Bay Packers
    • Minnesota Vikings
    • East
    • Dallas Cowboys
    • New York Giants
    • Philadelphia Eagles
    • Washington Commanders
    • MLB
    • National
      East
    • Atlanta Braves
    • Miami Marlins
    • New York Mets
    • Philadelphia Phillies
    • Washington Nationals
    • Central
    • Chicago Cubs
    • Cincinnati Reds
    • Milwaukee Brewers
    • Pittsburgh Pirates
    • St. Louis Cardinals
    • West
    • Arizona Diamondbacks
    • Colorado Rockies
    • Los Angeles Dodgers
    • San Diego Padres
    • San Francisco Giants
    • American
      East
    • Baltimore Orioles
    • Boston Red Sox
    • New York Yankees
    • Tampa Bay Rays
    • Toronto Blue Jays
    • Central
    • Chicago White Sox
    • Cleveland Guardians
    • Detroit Tigers
    • Kansas City Royals
    • Minnesota Twins
    • West
    • Athletics
    • Houston Astros
    • Los Angeles Angels
    • Seattle Mariners
    • Texas Rangers
    • NHL
    • Eastern
      Metropolitan
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
    • Atlantic
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Western
      Central
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Dallas Stars
    • Minnesota Wild
    • Nashville Predators
    • St. Louis Blues
    • Utah Mammoth
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific
    • Anahiem Ducks
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Vegas Golden Knights
    • WNBA
    • Eastern
    • Atlanta Dream
    • Chicago Sky
    • Connecticut Sun
    • Indiana Fever
    • New York Liberty
    • Washington Mystics
    • Western
    • Dallas Wings
    • Golden State Valkyries
    • Las Vegas Aces
    • Los Angeles Sparks
    • Minnestoa Lynx
    • Phoenix Mercury
    • Seattle Storm
  • HBCU
  • Women's Sports
• • •
  • NCAAB
  • NCAAF
  • Gaming
  • Entertainment
  • Soccer
  • NCAA Sports
  • Fantasy
  • UFC
  • Golf
  • WWE
  • Newsletters
  • Sneakers
  • Clutch Covers
  • Start Bench Cut
  • Sportle
  • Quizzes
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
Get The App
  • NFL
  • San Francisco 49ers

49ers’ Kyle Shanahan give eye-opening take on defense amid painful Super Bowl loss to Chiefs

After losing to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl again, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan gives his assessment about the defense.

By

Zachary Weinberger

Feb 14, 2024 at 10:35 AM ET
Apple News LogoSubscribe
Google News LogoFollow Us
San Francisco 49ers coaches Kyle Shanahan and Steve Wilks in front of Levi's Stadium.

As the San Francisco 49ers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, there is now a time of reflection for the losing team until the very next season where they will try and make noise again. When looking at the success of San Francisco, they were a well-oiled machine that had an exceptional defense and an explosive offense, all led by head coach Kyle Shanahan.

The 49ers head coach and players spoke Tuesday to the media after collecting their thoughts about the loss in the biggest game of the season. Shanahan would say that their defense are one of the main “reasons that we got this far” in which the team captured the No. 1 seed in the NFC and won the NFC West for the second straight season according to Matt Barrows of The Atheltic.

“I thought they’re one of the reasons that we got this far,” Shanahan said. “I thought they did a number of good things. They did a lot of good things in (Sunday’s) game, too, just like our whole team. Our team did a bunch of good things this year but came up short in the last game.”

49ers coach Steve Wilks back with the program not yet determined

49ers, Kyle Shanahan, Chiefs, Steve Wilks, Super Bowl

Even with the compliments of the defense, there was not a fast response from Shanahan when asked if he would bring back defensive coordinator Steve Wilks back with the organization. He would say “That’s stuff that we’ll talk about a ton as this week goes (on).”

Shanahan would then be asked a follow-up question about it and then said, “Uh, I haven’t talked to anybody yet. So, yeah, I expect all our coaches to be back.” There is no doubt that Wilks was a huge part in leading that defense to new heights as he meshed the elite talent on that unit well.

General manager John Lynch also spoke to the media after the Super Bowl and complimented the 49ers' defense as he should know a thing or two since he is a Hall of Fame safety. Lynch said that he is “really proud of our defense” per The Athletic.

“That’s the thing that people don’t see at home: the sacrifice people have made,” Lynch said. “I’m really proud of our defense for the way they competed in this last game. I think that looked like how I envisioned it looking. We were getting after them.”

Brock Purdy was a huge part in 49ers success

Besides the defense, one could point to quarterback Brock Purdy as being instrumental to the success of the offense as he was exceptional leading to be a finalist for league MVP. An offensive guru in Shanahan thought Purdy was “unbelievable” and that his season “was one of the most impressive” he has seen having been around a bevy of players and signal-callers.

“I thought Brock was unbelievable,” Shanahan said. “I mean, one of the most impressive seasons I’ve been around for a football player and a quarterback. He was just a stud through it all.”

Purdy threw for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions on the season in his first full season as a starter. The plan now for the quarterback is to get better, learn the offense even more, and work on areas where he lacks in.

“Shoulder mobility, my hips,” Purdy said via The Athletic. “Just being able to move better. I feel like my rookie year, I was pretty tight. And then I had surgery, so my focus was on my arm. So I feel like I could be a little more elusive and stuff in how I move. And that’s something I want to get better at.”

“I just keep thinking about those three-and-outs that we had,” Purdy continued. “And when we had an opportunity to go take control of the game.”

It would seem likely that the 49ers should very well be in contention to make a lot of noise next season in the NFL. However, they will try to get the bad taste out of their mouth as they lost to the Chiefs in their last two Super Bowl appearances.


Zachary Weinberger is a credentialed Miami Heat reporter and an Associate Editor covering the NBA at-large, NCAA Football, and NCAA Basketball for ClutchPoints. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022, covering sports at the FAU University Press and later at The Palm Beach Post.

You may also like
49ers urged to sign 5-time Pro Bowler to help Brock Purdy49ers urged to sign 5-time Pro Bowler to help Brock Purdy3 days ago
49ers rumors: Brock Purdy initially wanted $65 million annually49ers rumors: Brock Purdy initially wanted $65 million annually3 days ago
Did 49ers’ Brock Purdy consider holdout before $265 million contract extension?Did 49ers’ Brock Purdy consider holdout before $265 million contract extension?5 days ago
1 San Francisco 49ers rookie who stood out most in 2025 minicamp1 San Francisco 49ers rookie who stood out most in 2025 minicamp5 days ago
49ers news: George Kittle reveals 1 big Brock Purdy change, and it’s not $265 million49ers news: George Kittle reveals 1 big Brock Purdy change, and it’s not $265 million5 days ago
San Francisco 49ers’ single best move in 2025 NFL offseasonSan Francisco 49ers’ single best move in 2025 NFL offseason5 days ago
49ers’ Brock Purdy drops Pacers-Knicks hint amid Tyrese Haliburton mania49ers’ Brock Purdy drops Pacers-Knicks hint amid Tyrese Haliburton mania6 days ago
49ers’ Brock Purdy breaks silence on no-trade clause49ers’ Brock Purdy breaks silence on no-trade clause6 days ago
What 49ers QB Brock Purdy plans to buy after $265 million contract extensionWhat 49ers QB Brock Purdy plans to buy after $265 million contract extension6 days ago
49ers owner’s NSFW question to Eagles owner during 1-hour Tush Push plea49ers owner’s NSFW question to Eagles owner during 1-hour Tush Push plea1 week ago
49ers’ Brock Purdy celebrates $265 million extension in low-key fashion49ers’ Brock Purdy celebrates $265 million extension in low-key fashion1 week ago
49ers riskiest move in 2025 NFL offseason49ers riskiest move in 2025 NFL offseason1 week ago
Brock PurdyKyle ShanahanSteve Wilks
Just In
Warriors’ Jimmy Butler earns massive Stephen Curry crunch-time praise2h
Jason Kelce hits USA Flag QB with fiery ‘not the best’ reality check2h
NFL legend JJ Watt throws down epic dunk during Pat McAfee visit3h
NBA Finals berth puts Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Stephen Curry MVP company3h
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault’s sincere request to fans ahead of 2025 NBA Finals3h
Live and breathe the NFL?

🚨 Get viral NFL graphics, memes, rumors and trending news delivered right to your inbox with the Clutch Newsletter.

ClutchPoints Logo
HomeTerms of ServiceAboutPrivacy PolicyContact UsDMCA PolicyPressEthics and StandardsAdvertiseTeamSitemap
Follow Us
Copyright © ClutchPoints.