Once again, the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff, including head coach Kyle Shanahan, won't be attending the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, per NBC Sports Bay Area. They're not alone in this decision; Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, and Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy are among those opting out.
The 49ers have yet to find a new defensive coordinator after parting ways with Steve Wilks following their Super Bowl 58 defeat. Shanahan is currently conducting interviews to find a replacement.
While this marks the third consecutive season in which Shanahan will not attend the NFL Scouting Combine, general manager John Lynch, the 49ers' personnel department, and team scouts are expected to be present in Indianapolis for the yearly event.
Last year, when asked about Shanahan's decision to remain in Santa Clara during the NFL Scouting Combine, Lynch stated, "The good thing about Kyle is we're always talking. After a long season, we all need a little break. We really don't get it. We will get our break after the draft. But coaches, they do need that to kind of recharge, and I think we've got a system in place where there's a trust."
Despite the absence of the coaching staff, the 49ers are still expected to participate in player interviews remotely and can study the workouts independently.
Lynch added, "So Kyle not being here, that's not an indication that the Combine is not important to him or to us. Couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, I think COVID taught us all that they can be very much a part of this, via Zoom, with the player interviews. They can watch the workouts that happen. We all get tape, and you'll go back and watch them anyway."
