Report: 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan signed a contract extension during offseason

SANTA CLARA — Less than 24 hours after Kyle Shanahan led the 49ers to a dominating season-opening win over the Rams in Australia, came news Friday that the head coach had signed a contract extension in the offseason.

The Ringer first reported that Shanahan, who was already signed through 2028, got an extension that sources said keeps him with the team “for the long term.”

A source also told the Associated Press that Shanahan’s new deal was done but there was no indication on how long of an extension was signed.

Although the contract was kept under wraps, there was no secret the 49ers wanted Shanahan to remain their coach for the long haul.

49ers controlling owner Jed York indicated in March that Shanahan’s contract was good for two more years after this season. Even then, York was intent on making sure his coach wouldn’t go anywhere else.

“I want Kyle to be here for a long time. He’s been here a long time and I want him to be here even longer,” York said during the NFL meetings in Phoenix.

The 46-year-old Shanahan, in his 10th season as San Francisco’s head coach, was also more than willing back in March to entertain the idea of further securing his future as the 49ers coach.

“I still feel good. My family still loves it and they’d kill me if I was home a lot more,” Shanahan added. “So we have a good balance and I love doing it.”

Shanahan has now matched three-time Super Bowl-champion Bill Walsh for the longest tenure in 49ers’ coaching history. Like the legendary Walsh, Shanahan is one of the most highly regarded coaches in the game for his offensive acumen.

With the win over the Rams, Shanahan has an 83-67 regular-season record and a 9-5 mark in the playoffs. He has the 49ers’ third-most regular-season wins (16 behind George Seifert, 10 behind Walsh) and the most losses. Shanahan is also two games shy of tying Walsh for the most games coached with the 49ers (166).

Walsh delivered the 49ers’ first three Super Bowl wins and a 10-4 playoff record; Seifert won Lombardi Trophies with the 1989 and ’94 teams, going 10-5 in the postseason. Shanahan has taken the 49ers to the Super Bowl twice, losing to Kansas City both times.

With a total of 93 wins, Shanahan is closing in on George Seifert’s franchise wins record of 108 in the regular season and playoffs. Walsh had 102 and is the only other coach in team history with more wins than Shanahan.

Shanahan has taken the Niners to the postseason in five of his first nine seasons, making it to the Super Bowl following the 2019 and ’23. The 49ers also made it to the NFC title game two other times and went 12-5 with a wild-card win last season despite losing several stars to injuries.

Shanahan has finished in the top five in voting for AP NFL Coach of the Year four times and was runner-up in 2019 and 2022.

Shanahan was involved in a car crash in July that left with broken ribs, a broken hand, a broken nose, a concussion and 40 stitches for a cut near his eye. Shanahan said he was at fault in the crash because he was reaching for his cellphone but police didn’t issue him a ticket. He was limited by a concussion at the start of training camp but has recovered.