Kyle Shanahan’s coaching tree has branches across the NFL, and NBC Sports’ Peter Kings believes that scope could expand next season thanks to the 49ers’ two assistant coaches. .
As the team that missed the playoffs this season begins to consider adding to its coaching staff, King is looking at the combination of tight ends coach Brian Fleury and passing game coordinator that could help San Francisco’s struggling team as offensive coordinator. He pinpointed Clint Kubiak.
In his latest column, “Football Morning in America,” published Monday, King detailed what each assistant coach has to offer the team.
Clint Kubiak
Kubiak lived up to expectations during the 2023 regular season and earned the job after former 49ers passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik joined DeMeco Ryans’ staff as the new Houston Texans offensive coordinator. King envisions a similar path for Kubiak, whose brother Clay is the 49ers’ assistant quarterbacks coach.
“The Shanahan/Kubiak tree has many branches, but this is the first year that long-time coach Gary Kubiak’s son Clint has coached Shanahan, and Brock Purdy has never been this good. He is one of the reasons I have survived these years,” Dr. King wrote. “He’s been versatile in the league for such a young coach, including play-calling in Denver last year after Nathaniel Hackett was fired. He’s a smart guy, like his father.”
With Purdy at the helm, the 49ers’ passing game has been one of the most explosive in the NFL this season, thanks to a young quarterback who specializes in deep balls. It’s a testament to what Kubiak has accomplished in the Bay, and he should definitely catch the attention of teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots, who have a lot of spark.
Brian Fleury
Fleury is in his second season as San Francisco’s tight ends coach but fifth with the franchise, having spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons as offensive quality control coach and the 2019 season as defensive quality control coach.
George Kittle’s first season at tight end in 2022 was a career-high 11 touchdowns. This is the third-most in a single season for Tite in 49ers franchise history. Kittle also achieved 1,000 yards receiving for the third time this season. campaign of his career.
The assistant’s impact is clear and, coupled with his versatility, King expects Fleury to take on an even bigger coaching role in his future.
“He’s unknown outside of the Niners, but he’s highly regarded within the company as an authority on the run game that Kyle Shanahan trusts,” King said of Fleury. “Shanahan gets points for knowing the game inside out, and Fleury was a linebackers coach, director of football research, quality control coach and assistant position coach during his time in the NFL.
“Shanahan won’t want to lose him.”
But as 49ers Faithfull knows, Shanahan is no stranger to losing great assistants and coordinators to opposing NFL teams. Those who succeed in San Francisco, from Slowik and Mike McDaniel to DeMeko Ryans and Robert Saleh, often advance and grow in their coaching careers.
And with the Chargers reportedly requesting a meeting with 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes regarding their head coaching vacancy, if King’s instincts are correct, perhaps San Francisco will have multiple recruits this offseason. He will need to prepare for his departure.
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