With a solid roster this season, there are multiple potential San Francisco 49ers award winners in that locker room. However, despite very high highs very low lows, Nick Bosa was the first 49ers player in 12 years to win an individual award as he took home the 2020 Defensive Rookie of The Year – the last player to do being Patrick Willis snagging the same award in 2007.
But who’s among the favorites to bring home some awards to Levi Stadium? Here are all the potential award winners for the 49ers this season.
The San Francisco 49ers Could Have Several Award Winners in 2022
Comeback Player of The Year – Nick Bosa, Jimmy Garoppolo
After his DROTY season in 2019 where he recorded 47 tackles, nine sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and an interception in 14 starts, Nick Bosa’s ACL tear in Week 2 meant he’d miss out on the rest of last season – something that turned out to be a bad omen for the Niners last year.
The highest-ranked defensive rookie in #NFLTop100 HISTORY.
Nick Bosa, No. 17. @nbsmallerbear (via @NFLFilms) pic.twitter.com/qYFdRvqzHu
— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2020
He’s up against some good competition, however. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, certainly the favorite for this award, suffered an ankle injury in Week five against NFC East rivals New York Giants and would miss the rest of the season. Other quarterbacks up for contention include Sam Darnold of the Carolina Panthers, Joe Burrow for the Cincinnati Bengals, and Bosa’s teammate Jimmy Garoppolo.
The 49ers quarterback isn’t considered a frontrunner for the award but if he can lead his Niners to the playoffs whilst keeping his job from Trey Lance, then he’d have a legitimate shot considering he only played the same number of games last season as Prescott due to his own ankle injury suffered in the same week.
Outside of the quarterback position, Christian McCaffrey and Odell Beckham Jr. will be the obvious choices whilst on the defensive side of the ball, Von Miller of the Denver Broncos has the likes of Landon Collins of the Washington Football Team, who tore his Achilles tendon in Week 6, and Devin Bush Jr. who tore his ACL.
Offensive Rookie of The Year – Trey Lance
This one is a big question mark but I think it’s still a possibility. Let’s be honest, this is Trevor Lawrence’s award to lose. However, if Lance can get the job over Garoppolo early, then it’d be all to play for. A dual-threat with both his good arm strength and accuracy as well as his running ability makes him hope for the Faithful, especially with the weapons he has to throw to.
The other competitors for this award will be most of the top picks from the first round of the Draft – Zach Wilson of the New York Jets, Justin Fields for the Chicago Bears, Mac Jones for the New England Patriots could all outperform Lawrence in their debut NFL seasons. Even outsiders like Najee Harris, DeVonta Smith, or Kyle Pitts could have a chance if they find the endzone enough.
[pickup_prop id=”6933″]
Coach of the Year – Kyle Shanahan
The 49ers making it to a 6-10 record last season was nothing short of a miracle considering the state of their injury list throughout the year. None of that would’ve been possible without the schemes of head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Entering his fifth season with the Niners, Shanahan knows what it takes to make it to the Super Bowl after bouncing back from a disappointing season (2018). With an improved squad over last year and arguably better than the 2019 team that made it to Super Bowl LIV, Shanahan can use his ‘Shanahan Offense’ to create those big plays we saw so much of in 2019 especially with a new revamped running back core which will be the backbone of his schemes.
Other coaches he’ll have to contend with will be Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley – with Justin Herbert at his disposal, as well as the recent first-year head coach winner trend in the past few years, he’s a big contender. Somehow, Sean McDermott hasn’t won a Coach of the Year trophy in his home yet and this year could be the year he gets one with that strong Buffalo Bills squad.
