Alex Smith Believes Kyle Shanahan is Destined for Championship Success

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith is confident that head coach Kyle Shanahan will eventually lead the team to a championship victory. In a recent conversation with Larry Kreuger, Smith drew a parallel between Shanahan and renowned Hall of Fame coach Andy Reid, emphasizing that a title run for the 49ers is on the horizon.

“I think he's one of the best head coaches in football,” Smith remarked, highlighting Shanahan's capabilities. He recalled his time with Reid in Kansas City, noting that while Reid was recognized as an outstanding coach with a brilliant offensive mind, he had yet to secure a Super Bowl win at that point. “And Kyle's been on the doorstep how many times now?” Smith added, pointing out Shanahan's near-misses in the postseason.

Reid, who coached the Philadelphia Eagles for 14 seasons, faced numerous playoff challenges without winning a championship until he triumphed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. Shanahan's record mirrors this journey, as he has reached the playoffs five times, the NFC Championship three times, and has come up short in two Super Bowl appearances, both against Reid's Chiefs.

Smith believes that the more often Shanahan's team contends, the closer they get to securing a championship title. “It's going to happen, and it's going to be an avalanche,” he stated. He explained that the competitiveness within their division, which featured two of the strongest teams last season, positions the 49ers well for future success.

Reflecting on his own career, Smith expressed a desire to have played in Shanahan's system and praised the stability that Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have brought to the organization. “At some point the dam's gonna break for Kyle and the Niners,” he said. “As a Niner fan, we are lucky to have this guy. Look where the franchise is at. And obviously so much of it is because of Kyle.”