49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan gave an interesting answer on analytics, which helps explain why he is different from (and better than) most NFL coaches.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan drew criticism from analytics proponents after telling Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area that he rejects marginal 51 percent statistical advantages for fourth-down decisions in favor of in-game feel. Writer Nick San Miguel argues that Shanahan's willingness to anger the analytics community illustrates what makes him an exceptional NFL coach.
San Miguel contrasts Shanahan's selective aggression with coaches such as Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson, noting PFF data showed San Francisco had the second-fewest fourth-down attempts from 2021 to 2025. The writer contends that data models miss crucial context like defensive form and personnel health.
Get the latest sports news and top stories from MySportsTab delivered straight to your inbox.
No spam. Just the latest sports news and updates.
