49ers' Shanahan: 'We'll be back next year strong'
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan believes his team can bounce back next season after a 25-22 overtime defeat in Super Bowl LVIII.
"We're hurting right now, but it doesn't take away from how proud of our guys I am. I'm really proud of them today, too. As part of sports, as part of football, as part of life," Shanahan said after the contest, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.
"I'm glad we put ourselves out there. I love our team. We'll recover, and we'll be back next year strong."
Shanahan is now 0-3 in Super Bowls as a coordinator or head coach. His team has had at least a 10-point lead at some point in each loss.
The 49ers' offense couldn't take advantage of the defense's solid performance. The latter held the Chiefs to only six points until late in the third quarter and forced two turnovers. Kansas City produced just 206 yards on its first nine possessions.
"For our defense to give us that many stops like they did, and then for us to go three-and-out and not do anything with those opportunities," Purdy said, according to Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports. "That's what hurts me."
San Francisco only mustered one touchdown on its final six drives but seemed to reset for overtime. The club drove to the Chiefs' 15-yard line on their first possession in the extra frame. But, after a Christian McCaffrey six-yard run, the 49ers couldn't gain yards on the second and third downs and were forced to kick a 27-yard field goal to give the Chiefs a chance to win the game.
Kansas City collected 75 yards on 13 plays, capped off by a Mecole Hardman three-yard touchdown reception to ice the game.
"Anybody got a nail he can step on?" Jauan Jennings said when asked how painful the loss was, according to Micahel Baca of NFL Network. "Probably that much."
He added: "Hard-fought year. A lot of teammates I know that wanted that game - I wish we could've got it."
San Francisco led the league in offensive success rate and EPA/play this season. The offensive core, including McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Brock Purdy, are all under contract in 2024.