Mike Florio has a suggestion: the Bears fixing their head-coaching woes by trading with the 49ers for… Kyle Shanahan.

The San Francisco 49ers know all too well what it’s like to have instability at head coach. One doesn’t have to travel back too far to recall the gloomy years of 2015 and 2016 when the Niners employed one-and-done head coaches, Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly.

Going back even further, the dark years of the mid-2000s saw a trio of failed coaches: Dennis Erickson, Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary.

So, perhaps, San Francisco can empathize with the Chicago Bears’ seemingly never-ending plight of bad head coaches, particularly in the wake of firing Matt Eberflus following a debacle of a Week 13 loss to the Detroit Lions.

But the 49ers won’t be inclined to aid Chicago in its next head-coaching search.

That said, one well-known NFL media personality thinks the Niners could. And it would involve a deal for their own head coach, Kyle Shanahan.

At 5-7, just ahead of its own matchup versus Chicago in Week 14, San Francisco’s 2024 campaign has been chock full of disappointment, a far cry from the Super Bowl aspirations the team had entering Week 1.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has taken plenty of heat throughout the season, too, ranging from personnel decisions, roster mismanagement, poor play calling and so on.

But, there’s no denying Shanahan’s prowess as an offensive mastermind, something Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio feels should attract the Bears as they seek a permanent Eberflus replacement.

From Florio:

“The Bears should give it a whirl. Specifically, they should make the inquiry as to 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan,

There’s no obvious reason to think he or the team would like a fresh start. From his perspective, it’s fruitless; he’s under contract. From the team’s perspective, who really ever knows?

In early 2014, the 49ers had a deal in place to send Jim Harbaugh to the Browns. And that was after three stellar seasons, featuring three conference championship games and one Super Bowl.

Although Harbaugh ultimately decided not to do it, it’s worth making the inquiry. Shanahan’s dad, Mike, is from the Chicago area. More importantly, Shanahan is an offensive wizard who would get the most out of quarterback Caleb Williams.

However it would play out, it starts with a phone call. The Bears should make the call.”

Florio’s example on Harbaugh does set the groundwork, yes. Theoretically, the 49ers could explore trading Shanahan in exchange for a multitude of NFL Draft picks.

But, why?

Kyle Shanahan trade suggestion makes no sense for 49ers

Harbaugh was a unique case. The intense personality clashed with his then-general manager, Trent Baalke, as well as the front office, leading to the eventual “mutual” parting of ways in January of 2015. But the Niners found out the hard way why letting go of a successful head coach typically opens the door to disaster.

Look no further than the Tomsula and Kelly years.

On top of that, and despite San Francisco’s issues in 2024, there have been precisely zero signs CEO Jed York and Co. want to dismiss Shanahan, especially after recently extending his contract beyond 2025.

Additionally, ESPN’s Adam Schefter told the Pat McAfee Show there’s “zero indication” of Shanahan being dismissed or traded:

In Florio’s defense, he did merely suggest Chicago make a phone call (or, perhaps, an in-person visit when the Bears play at Levi’s Stadium in Week 14) to inquire about the possibility. And the NBC Sports personality also added other well-established coaches, too, including the likes of a Shanahan protégé, the Miami Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel.

However, Florio’s line of thinking here is no better than suggesting the 49ers try trading for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes since “it starts with a phone call.”

KC would simply hang up the phone, as would the Niners if Chicago called to trade for Shanahan.

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