There are multiple factors that could have contributed to the 49ers’ loss in Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs. Their defense struggled to contain Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense when it mattered most, while their wide receivers faced difficulties in getting separation against Kansas City’s zone defense, leading to ineffective offensive possessions in the second half.
However, sometimes luck simply doesn’t go your way.
Former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith discussed the team’s Super Bowl losses during an appearance on KNBR 680’s “Murph & Markus” show. When asked about San Francisco’s inability to win the Super Bowl despite coming close on several occasions, Smith addressed whether there was a recurring issue with the team’s ability to win the “big game.”
“It’s a good problem. You can take six plays from this last Super Bowl, and if the ball just bounces a different way on one of them, the Niners are holding up the Lombardi,” Smith commented. “You gotta keep getting opportunities, and there is a certain amount of luck in this, and I think unfortunately they’ve been on the wrong side of it a few times. And Kyle [Shanahan] has been on the wrong side of it even more.”
“This kind of sustained success they’re having, that is so rare. It’s so hard to do, and they just need to keep knocking at the door. And they’re going to get it.”
Shanahan, known for his coaching prowess as both a head coach and offensive coordinator, has experienced the disappointment of losing three Super Bowls despite holding fourth-quarter leads. Like Andy Reid early in his coaching career with the Philadelphia Eagles, Shanahan has faced playoff setbacks despite being highly regarded in the NFL.
“And it’s so funny that Kyle and the Niners have lost twice to the Chiefs and Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes because this was kind of Andy’s thing for so long, all the sustained success he had in Philly but couldn’t win the big game,” Smith added. “It kind of reminds me a little bit of what Kyle’s going through.
“Clearly, everybody recognized their offensive genius, some of the best coaches in the NFL and couldn’t get it done. And all of a sudden you finally do, and now Andy’s on the Mount Rushmore of coaches. It can change very quickly, and I think it’s going to for Kyle and this Niners team.”
Reid amassed a notable 130-93-1 record during his 14 seasons as the Eagles’ coach. Despite leading Philadelphia to the playoffs nine times and consistently fielding competitive teams, Reid fell short of winning a Super Bowl during his tenure.
However, seven years later, Reid finally clinched the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LIV, defeating Shanahan and the 49ers. He went on to secure two more Super Bowl victories, including one against the Eagles in 2023 and another against San Francisco in 2024.
The question now arises: Will Shanahan and the 49ers follow a similar trajectory to Reid’s eventual Super Bowl success after facing initial setbacks?