Some things just make too much sense. That’s Ben Johnson becoming the next head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. It’s a move that makes too much sense. Therefore, the 49ers should absolutely make this move.
It’s no secret what Ben Johnson has done as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator the last three seasons. The Lions have been top five in scoring and yards per game in each of the last three seasons, currently leading the NFL in scoring and ranking second in yards per game this season. With weapons that include Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jameson Williams, David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, with Jared Goff conducting the offense, the Lions offense has become a well-oiled machine. Not only that, there is some incredible trickery and gadget plays that Johnson has up his sleeve.
Now look at the 49ers offensive personnel, when they’re all healthy. Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings. With Brock Purdy as the conductor, the 49ers offense is well-orchestrated when it’s fully healthy. Like Johnson, 49ers head coach and play-caller Kyle Shanahan has trickery and gadget plays up his sleeve. The 49ers offense also deploys a lot of pre-snap motion and misdirection plays.
Speaking of Shanahan, I think his time could be up in San Francisco. There’s no denying he’s a really good head coach. Unfortunately, there comes a time where organizations know they have peaked with their current head coach. The 49ers have been to two Super Bowls with Shanahan, but this season has not gone as expected. With so much uncertainty ahead for the 49ers this
offseason, it may be time to move on from Shanahan and start fresh.
49ers general manager John Lynch is one of the smartest general managers in the NFL. He’s the one who hired Shanahan back in 2017. Lynch also stayed loyal to him after the 49ers won just 10 games in Shanahan’s first two seasons, a decision that paid off with two Super Bowl berths and four appearances in the NFC Championship Game. But the devastation of losing Super Bowl LVIII in overtime this past February to the Kansas City Chiefs has lingered well into this season.
Combine that devastation with what happened last week with 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell refusing to play, which you could argue was the peak of that lingering devastation, with the uncertain future that lies ahead for the 49ers, John Lynch and team ownership has to realize that maybe it’s time to move on from Shanahan.
The 49ers are a championship organization. They’ve won five Super Bowls, with all five coming in a 14-year span from 1981-1994. But the 49ers haven’t won the Super Bowl in 30 years, losing three in the last 12 seasons prior to 2024. Shanahan got them there twice, but he couldn’t lead them to their sixth Lombardi Trophy. The standard for the 49ers is a Super Bowl championship. Shanahan has proven he can’t win the big one. The 49ers have peaked with him as their head coach. Perhaps it’s time for a fresh start.
Like Shanahan, though, the 49ers have a history of being led by innovative offensive-minded head coaches. Starting in 1979 in legendary head coach Bill Walsh’s first season, the 49ers have been led by Walsh, George Seifert, Steve Mariucci, Jim Harbaugh and most recently Kyle Shanahan. They are all offensive minds that have coached some of the greatest offensive players in NFL history.
Next up to be the 49ers head coach is Ben Johnson. He’s proven himself to be not just an offensive-minded head coach, but a leader. Johnson is the leader the 49ers need as they head into an offseason that will be highlighted by uncertainty. With Ben Johnson as their next head coach, the 49ers will continue to be one of the NFL’s best offenses and a perennial Super Bowl contender.
