49ers general manager John Lynch is scoffing at the notion that head coach Kyle Shanahan is on the hot seat.
San Francisco is 5-7 and appears to be at something of a crossroads in its championship window due to aging players and injuries.
Earlier this week, ProFootballTalk founder Mike Florio suggested the idea of the 49ers trading Shanahan to the Bears. It would allow for the 49ers to have a clean split and receive compensation, while the Bears would have an offensive guru to pair with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
Alas, Lynch appeared on KNBR on Friday and threw cold water on the idea that Shanahan might not be back with the team next year.
“I sit back, and I try to be focused, but I’ve found the whole discussion on Kyle and some of the stuff rather comical,” he said, as covered by the Chicago Sun-Times.
“We have won four of the last five division championships. We’ve been in two Super Bowls. Look, the standard here is to win championships, and we’ve fallen short of that. I understand. But we have an excellent head coach. And the fact people are talking about stuff like that, I do find it comical.”
Florio made the comments about Shanahan during an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show” earlier this week.
“I feel like Shanahan and the 49ers are getting close to the point where they would benefit mutually from a fresh start,” Florio said, before naming the Bears as a spot that would work for the coach.
“If you can get Shanahan and join him at the hip with Caleb Williams, are you kidding me?”
Florio drew parallels to the period where Jim Harbaugh’s time in San Francisco drew to an end and there were trade talks about which ultimately fell through sending the coach to Cleveland.
The Bears (4-8) are seeking a new head coach after firing Matt Eberflus midway into his third season with the team.
The two teams meet Sunday in Santa Clara, with the 49ers needing a win if they hope to stay alive in the NFC West race.