Here’s an interesting what-if scenario that almost happened. Former San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan almost replaced then-49ers head coach George Seifert. Shanahan was on the Talk of Fame Network with Clark Judge and Judge flat out stated it as the interview began (go to the 14:45 mark to hear the statement):
I’m not sure our listeners know this, but had the 49ers not won that year [1994]—or if they had not gotten to the Super Bowl— you [Mike Shanahan] were going to be the next head coach of the team.