49ers Head Coach Reflects on Loss to Broncos, Vows to Learn from Mistakes Ahead of Regular Season

After the San Francisco 49ers’ 30–9 defeat to the Denver Broncos in their first preseason game, Head Coach Kyle Shanahan wasted no time reflecting on what went wrong and identifying key lessons for the team moving forward.

While the preseason is often viewed as a time for experimentation and evaluating talent, the loss served as a wake-up call for the 49ers, with Shanahan acknowledging several areas that need improvement before the regular season kicks off.

"We learned a lot from today’s game, and as frustrating as it was, it’s a chance for us to grow," Shanahan said in a post-game interview. "There were mistakes made on both sides of the ball, and we’ve got to make sure we’re executing better moving forward. This is where we build the foundation for the season."

One of the key takeaways for Shanahan and his coaching staff was the need for better lineup decisions and clearer rotations. Several players struggled to find their rhythm, particularly on the offensive line and in the secondary, leaving the team vulnerable at critical moments.

"I take responsibility for some of the lineup choices," Shanahan admitted. "We were trying to evaluate a lot of different players, but we need to focus on putting the right guys in the right spots. The chemistry has to be there, and we need to ensure we’re giving ourselves the best chance to win."

Shanahan also pointed to a lack of discipline and missed opportunities, particularly in the red zone, where the 49ers failed to convert on several key drives. He emphasized that improving efficiency on both offense and defense will be a top priority in the coming weeks.

"We’ve got to be better in the red zone, and we’ve got to make those crucial plays when they matter," Shanahan explained. "There were too many missed opportunities today, but we’ll fix that. The players know what’s expected of them, and they’ll be working hard to correct those mistakes."

Despite the tough loss, Shanahan remained confident in his team’s potential. He’s already looking ahead to the next preseason games, where he plans to make adjustments based on the lessons learned from this defeat.

"This is why we have preseason games—to work out the kinks and identify where we need to improve. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I believe in this team and what we can accomplish," Shanahan concluded.

The 49ers will use this loss as a learning opportunity to refine their strategies and player rotations, with the hope of coming out stronger in their next matchup. The road to the regular season is a process, and Coach Shanahan is determined to guide his team to better execution and success.