Top Analyst Feels Either Kyle Shanahan or Matt LaFleur Will Be Fired in 2026 Season

FOX Sports' Jason McIntyre says Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur could be fired by their respective teams in 2026.

Top Analyst Feels Either Kyle Shanahan or Matt LaFleur Will Be Fired in 2026 Season

Kyle Shanahan and Jason McIntyre inside the circle (Image via IMAGO/X)

Jason McIntyre is back with another controversial take. The FOX Sports analyst predicts that Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, or both are in danger of losing their job in 2026.

In a recent segment of FS1’s The Herd, McIntyre picked LaFleur and Shanahan as the two coaches who could be fired. McIntyre opened his argument with Shanahan before transitioning into dissecting LaFleur’s future.

I believe either Kyle Shanahan or Mr. LeFleur, one of them gets fired. I think it’s one of those two. They’re kind of tied together. Obviously, they have a deep relationship. I think one of them is getting run.

Jason McIntyre said on The Herd

McIntyre did acknowledge that Shanahan’s less likely to see the chop, but noted that GM John Lynch could be in hot water.

McIntyre quickly diverted his entire focus from Shanahan to LaFleur. He argued the Green Bay Packers are standing on soft ground. The offensive line is among the worst in the league; last season’s big acquisition, Micah Parsons, is unlikely to return before Week 6, and running back Josh Jacobs could serve jail time in a domestic violence case.

Despite basing 70% of his monologue critiquing LaFleur and the Packers, McIntyre glued Shanahan into the conversation once more at the end.

I think LaFleur or Shanahan gets ousted here….Obviously [I am] wishful thinking… one of those two ends up with [the Jets].

McIntyre added
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Are Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur really at risk of losing their jobs?

McIntyre is a well-known Jets fan, so of course he would like to see the AFC franchise hire capable coaches. But that’s a legitimate knock on Aaron Glenn, even though McIntyre was careful to avoid taking his name. Sure, Glenn did not have a great first season, but that’s no one expected him to suddenly become prime Bill Belichick in his first time managing an NFL club.

Top Analyst Feels Either Kyle Shanahan or Matt LaFleur Will Be Fired in 2026 Season
Kyle Shanahan (Image via IMAGO)

Let’s not forget Robert Saleh managed the Jets before Glenn. Saleh comes from Shanahan’s coaching tree, and he only lasted a little over four seasons. New York is a very difficult place to coach. And even if, by the grace of God, the Jets land either LaFleur or Shanahan, they can’t guarantee success. For now, the Jets fans must rely on Glenn rather than thinking about the future.

As for Shanahan, he’s job is safe. Sure, he has yet to deliver Super Bowl glory. But they have remained competitive every year. Last year is a great example of Shanahan’s coaching skills. Despite the tsunami of injuries, the Niners qualified for the playoffs and defeated the defending champions, the Eagles, in the wildcard round. The Niners aren’t parting ways with Shanahan any time soon, barring a major fallout.

As for LaFleur, he was on the verge of being replaced in the offseason. The Packers failed to capitalize on Minnesota and Detroit’s down year, conceding the division to Chicago. And they were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Bears.

Experts viewed LaFleur as one of the candidates who could lose his job. But the Packers extended his contract.

The Packers and the 49ers won’t face each other until the playoffs this year. At the moment, both teams are prepping for their week one fixtures. The Packers are on the road to the Minnesota Vikings, while the Niners head to Sydney to play the Los Angeles Rams in Australia’s first-ever NFL game.

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