Before a heartbreaking loss in the NFC Championship Game to Philadelphia, Niners fans were extremely confident. Then San Francisco was left without a healthy quarterback, and the Eagles easily disposed of the 49ers to reach the Super Bowl. If things don’t go well in 2023 with a loaded roster and high expectations, these guys could shoulder the blame:
1. General manager John Lynch
Lynch surprised everyone by leaving the broadcast booth for San Francisco’s front office in 2017. Since then, he has been a mixed bag. As general manager, Lynch has overseen a team that has gone to three conference championship games and one Super Bowl. On his watch, the Niners also have three losing seasons.
After losing the NFC Championship Game after the 2021 season, Lynch went all-in on North Dakota State QB Trey Lance. In three years as a Bison, he threw only 318 passes in 17 starts. Still, Lynch traded three first-round picks and a third-round pick to take Lance third overall in 2021, but we still don’t know if he can play.
With just $7.8 million and change in cap space, per Spotrac, Lynch has work to do.
2. Head coach Kyle Shanahan
Shanahan is in the middle of a six-year contract extension he signed in 2020. His job is safe, but he’s not above criticism. He worked wonders with an injured team last season, but 49ers fans still wonder why he didn’t challenge DeVonta Smith’s non-catch in the NFC Championship Game.
San Francisco has the league’s best defense and a top 10 offense no matter who’s playing QB, but things change fast in the NFL. Shanahan’s lost two defensive coordinators in three years and doesn’t have a fully healthy quarterback on the roster.
Shanahan has had six years to develop a franchise QB, and with apologies to QB Brock Purdy, the coach is no closer in 2023 than he was in 2017.
3. Quarterback Trey Lance
Lance hit rock bottom in Week 2 against Seattle when an ankle injury ended his season. After two surgeries, things look good for his recovery, but after two seasons with the team, he hasn’t looked good on the field.
Injuries aside, it’s fair to expect more than 797 yards passing from a quarterback drafted third overall, and it’s not unreasonable to hope he’d have more touchdown passes (five) than sacks (six). Lance has the NFL’s most talented roster around him, but if he can’t get it going, he won’t be around for long.
