49ers coach Kyle Shanahan can finally talk playoffs: ‘You shift your goals’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Shanahan waited until San Francisco clinched playoff spot before changing goals.
- Victory over Colts secured path to home playoff game and NFC seeding push.
- Shanahan prioritized process over Super Bowl talk, urged team to be best.
Now that his team is in the playoffs, how does San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan talk to his team about them?
And has that changed?
Shanahan ruminated on that topic in his news conference following the 49ers 48-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts Monday. His team is 11-4 and can be the No. 1 seed in the NFC if it wins the remaining two games.
Shanahan said he didn’t address the playoffs directly with his team until they officially clinched on Sunday night after the Detroit Lions lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s the fifth time in the last seven seasons San Francisco has reached the playoffs.
“Last night we got in, so I was able to talk about that, and when you know you’re in the playoffs, then you shift your goals,” Shanahan said. “And that’s make the playoffs the best situation we possibly (can). We’d love to play a home game at Levi’s (Stadium) and we knew the only way to do that was to win tonight versus the Colts. And we got that done and now we gotta look to do that versus Chicago.”
Shanahan said he wanted to switch up the way his team was thinking about expectations heading into the season.
“I remember starting this offseason, bringing the guys over to my house, back in OTAs, and all the vets, guys who have been here for three or four years ... every time we’ve gone to OTAs it’s been all about trying to get to a Super Bowl, trying to win a Super Bowl,” Shanahan said. “And I wanted to make sure that we didn’t really talk that way this year. We needed to focus on just trying to be the best team and we’ll see what happens.
“That’s been our motto all year. And I’m just proud that, actually last night, I could congratulate them and actually talk about the playoffs because they earned that, they got in there. Now it’s time to try to position ourselves to try to do something in that.”
Here are other highlights from Shanahan’s news conference:
On George Kittle’s ankle injury
Kittle appeared to be banged up throughout the game before exiting in the second half while he appeared frustrated and in pain on the sidelines.
“No, not yet,” Shanahan said when asked if the team knew if it was a high ankle sprain. “He played on it for a while and then it just got too stiff. We’ll find out tomorrow (after further testing).”
On Brock Purdy’s big night
“He did awesome, man. Played really well. (I) got on him for a couple that he missed. It was pretty close to a perfect game. He did a hell of a job.”
Brock Purdy’s stat line: 25 of 34, 295 yards, 5 touchdowns, 1 interception. The 49ers didn’t punt for the second straight game, the first time they’ve done that in team history, and scored on seven of their nine possessions. The only times they didn’t: when they missed a 64-yard field goal as the first half expired and when Purdy threw an interception with 5 minutes remaining.
On Jauan Jennings’ stepping up
Jauan Jennings finished with five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. Three converted third downs, including his score.
“Jauan’s been huge,” Shanahan said. “The way he stepped it up last year, when (Brandon Aiyuk) went down with his ACL and Jauan played as the number one receiver all last year. He’s had a lot of injuries this year, he’s battled through them all and he’s been able to come back and he’s finishing the way, to me, he’s always been.”
On going against Rivers
Philip Rivers, 44, was making his second start since coming out retirement after being away for four full seasons. He played well in the early going and finished with a stat line of 23 of 35, 277 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.
“He’s unbelievable,” Shanahan said. “He looks like I remember. The ball always goes to the right spot. He lets it go as fast as anyone. He can understand almost every coverage that you’re in. He got them into so many good plays and the ball was coming out, and he’s amazing.”
This story was originally published December 22, 2025 at 9:46 PM with the headline "49ers coach Kyle Shanahan can finally talk playoffs: ‘You shift your goals’."
