Acho doesn’t hold back and criticizes Kyle Shanahan for the 49ers’ woes

Jeffrey Becker-Imagn images

Kyle Shanahan has faced mounting criticism from fans as the San Francisco 49ers, who are now 5-6, are coming off a disappointing 2024 season. This comes especially after a Super Bowl appearance earlier this year, which adds to the frustrations.

While injuries have undoubtedly affected the 49ers’ performance, FOX Sports analyst Emmanuel Acho puts the blame squarely on Shanahan, accusing the head coach of mismanagement in what he calls the most disappointing season of Shanahan’s tenure.

“Kyle Shanahan looks like he mismanaged the staff, he mismanaged the roster and he mismanaged the offense,” Acho claimed during a segment on The facility.

Poor 49ers staff management

Acho began by criticizing Shanahan’s decision to fire defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and replace him with Nick Sorensen.

“You fired Steve Wilks because there was a lack of personality and personnel fit,” Acho said. “Okay, you fire Steve Wilks, but he had the third-best defense in football (in points allowed last season). And now Sorensen has the 25th-best defense in football.”

While Acho’s numbers seem off — San Francisco currently ranks 17th in points allowed and fifth in total yards allowed — his point remains: the defense has performed better under Wilks’ leadership.

“Yesterday the Niners allowed 38 points in a regular season game, the first time in 37 games since the Kansas City Chiefs did so on October 23, 2022,” Acho added. “So you’re mismanaging the workforce.”

Mismanagement of the 49ers players

Acho also highlighted player-related tensions, including when Shanahan apparently berated the wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for wearing the wrong colored shorts while practicing.

He highlighted a recent side incident involving the wide receiver Deebo Samuel let his frustrations boil over, resulting in a tense conversation with teammate and long-snapper Taybor pepperwhich was captured during the broadcast.

“Deebo Samuel, he’s choking snappers during the game and it’s not being talked about,” Acho said. “So you’re mismanaging the staff, you’re mismanaging the roster.”

Mismanagement of the 49ers offense

As the 49ers’ offensive play-caller, Acho believes Shanahan is ultimately responsible for the unit’s disappointing performance this season.

“This offense, this prolific offense, in a world where the Detroit Lions are running the scoreboards and running a lot of tricks, in a world where offenses are changing protections, in a world where quarterbacks and players are being protected, this offense seems stagnant ,” said Acho.

“Kyle Shanahan mismanaged the staff. That’s obvious. I believe he mismanaged the roster. I believe he mismanaged the offense. This is the most disappointing season given the expectations of the Kyle Shanahan era, and I don’t believe this is the case.” near.”