SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 28: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with Head coach Kyle Shanahan after defeating the Detroit Lions 34-31 in the NFC Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
If there was ever a perfect opportunity for Kyle Shanahan and Kirk Cousins to reunite, this offseason might be it.

The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is a free agent next month. Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers are coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 58, and the 44-year-old head coach just might view Cousins as an upgrade over Brock Purdy at the game’s most important position.

 

Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr wrote one bold prediction for all 32 NFL teams this offseason. In the 49ers’ slot, he predicted that they’ll sign Cousins to a two-year contract:
“Kyle Shanahan was really smart these past two weeks in making one talking point clear: He felt that signing Tom Brady and stashing Brock Purdy to the side was a benefit to Purdy and an investment. Could he be able to make the same claim about Cousins who, while less successful, does carry a certain amount of gravitas? Shanahan wants fast processors who don’t miss throws. His affinity for Cousins is known. If the 49ers plan on running it back, it makes sense to bolster the QB room.”

Shanahan and Cousins worked together in Washington when Kyle’s father, Mike, was head coach of the NFC East club. There’s a lot of familiarity between the two, and a multi-time Pro Bowler like Cousins could do wonders in an offense featuring Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle.