How Kyle Shanahan’s top running backs have fared without him

Raheem Mostert requested a trade away from Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers, which history says may not be in his best interest.

Alfred Morris

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Morris is a bit of an outlier on this list because he’s the only one to have a 1,000-yard season outside of Shanahan’s offense. He joined Washington as a sixth-round pick in 2012 and immediately posted big-time numbers with 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns in a zone-read heavy offense behind Robert Griffin III. He backed that up with another big year and a Pro Bowl nod in his second season. Shanahan left in 2014, but Morris still managed to post 1,074 yards and eight touchdowns. The drop-off in production came in 2015 when he put up a career-low 751 yards. He went to Dallas for the following two seasons, re-linked with Shanahan in San Francisco in 2018, then played one game in Arizona last season. He wasn’t as effective for the 49ers during that second stint. Morris found success without Shanahan, but his two best years came in those first two seasons in Washington.

Numbers with Shanahan: 44 games, 722 carries, 3,316 rushing yards, 22 rushing touchdowns, 28 receptions, 228 receiving yards.

Numbers without Shanahan: 61 games, 652 carries, 2,615 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 37 receptions, 266 receiving yards.