Kyle Shanahan plans to run the San Francisco 49ers' offense himself.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that Shanahan plans to coordinate the 49ers' offense. The Niners intend to hire quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello and run-game guru Mike McDaniel to support Shanahan's offense.
The news isn't a big surprise. Shanahan has been an NFL offensive coordinator since 2008 when he landed the Houston Texans' job. He's spent stints as OC with the Washington Redskins (2010-2013) and Cleveland Browns (2014) and the past two years with the Atlanta Falcons.
Under Shanahan's guidance, the 2016 Falcons boasted a high-flying offense that consistently schemed wide-open receivers throughout the formation and took advantage of the best complementary running back duo in the NFL.
The challenge for the first-time head coach will be replicating past success with the talent-poor roster he takes over in San Francisco. The 49ers do not have a proven quarterback. Shanahan goes from a receiver corps of Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu and Taylor Gabriel to one currently composed of Torrey Smith, Chris Harper and Aaron Burbridge.
It's not new for former offensive coordinators to call plays when they take over as first-time coaches, but Shanahan will have a lot on his plate with a first-time general manager in John Lynch and a shallow roster in San Francisco.
