A buttoned-up Shanahan, who is a pundit, took part in NBC’s Super Bowl coverage from inside Levi’s Stadium before the start of Super Bowl LX and handled the duties well, but as he explained, there is plenty left for him to accomplish. His coaching flame is far from extinguished, and after leading an injury-riddled 49ers squad to a 12-5 finish and an upset playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Wild Card weekend in 2025, his mind is trained on only one pursuit.
At 46 years old, Shanahan is close to passing legendary coach Bill Walsh on the all-time list for games coached in 49ers history. If all goes according to plan, Shanahan will clear the Pro Football Hall of Fame by the end of September this season. He has enjoyed great success, leading the 49ers to five double-digit winning seasons, five playoff appearances and two trips to the Super Bowl.
His team lost both in maddening fashion, further fueling his fire.
Despite this fact, it was fair to wonder if Shanahan might burn out and turn to television. Walsh did it once, leaving the 49ers after their win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII and joining NBC as a broadcaster alongside the late Dick Enberg before returning to coach at Stanford in 1992.
Recently also played a role in such a result. As soon as Mike Tomlin retired as Steelers coach in January, many believed his next move would put him in front of a camera with a microphone in hand. He has reportedly since signed with an agency, a sign that he will at least consider a career in radio after 19 years in Pittsburgh.
Thanks to some business moves, there are many high-profile broadcasting jobs available for NFL TV Network affiliates. Matt Ryan left CBS Sports to become president of football for the Atlanta Falcons, while Michael Vick left FOX to take over as coach at Norfolk State, making room for at least two new faces.
Neither will include Shanahan, at least not for the foreseeable future. While he has enjoyed his time with NBC, he has also had rivalries with his NFC West foes, including former Washington assistant Sean McVay, the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning coach.
Shanahan still has a long way to go. The completion of the broadcast can wait.