The San Francisco 49ers once again performed well in their annual report card from the NFLPA, ranking in the upper echelon of NFL teams as they improved from seventh in the league last year to sixth overall for 2024.

San Francisco scored highly almost across the board, with the training room facilities (C) and team travel (C+) the only areas in which the Niners did not receive at least a B minus.

But the standout grade for the Niners was the one they received for their head coach, Kyle Shanahan.

Shanahan was given an A, seventh among all head coaches.

The report said that 91 percent of players feel Shanahan is efficient with their time, and that the players believe he is very willing to listen to the locker room.

In addition to Shanahan, Jed York's ownership also scored well. Ownership was given an A minus, with York receiving a 9.1/10 from players for his willingness to invest in the team facilities.

San Francisco does not have much salary cap space with which to work this offseason, but the presence of Shanahan makes the Niners a very attractive proposition for prospective free agents. 

The 49ers have been a perennial Super Bowl contender since 2019, with Shanahan consistently putting them in a position to succeed. Well-liked by the locker room, it doesn't figure to be difficult for current 49ers to sway friends about to hit the open market to consider San Francisco and their offensive mastermind head coach.

Ownership is also a critical factor for players when they hit the market. In that sense, York also gives San Francisco an edge, the Niners owner having completely turned around his image from the dark days of the end of the Jim Harbaugh era.

But the 49ers' biggest advantage is clearly Shanahan. Players want to play for him, and he excels at connecting with players when he gets them in the building. The NFLPA report illustrates that.

Tracking the draft prospects the 49ers spoke with during the 2024 NFL Combine

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