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The 49ers are actively searching for their next head coach. They spoke with Mike Shanahan last Thursday, and former 49ers president and CEO Carmen Policy on Wednesday offered his support.

"I can see some wisdom in (hiring Shanahan), I really can," Policy said on KNBR 680. "Shanahan is an outstanding coach. He is an offensive genius. He not only understood the Walsh system, he took it to another level.

"I think if you talk to Steve Young, he will tell you that Shanahan was a huge influence on him during the time that Shanahan was the offensive coordinator. I feel that he was a significant contributor to our winning the Super Bowl during the '94 season -- Super Bowl 29.

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"I think his experience, his wisdom, his toughness, and his ability to deal with offense and quarterbacks would be a natural -- and I think it would help them a great deal."

Shanahan was ultra successful as the team's offensive coordinator from 1992 to ’94. He left the 49ers after the organization's last Super Bowl victory in January 1995 to become Broncos head coach. He won Super Bowls as Denver’s head coach after the 1997 and ’98 seasons with John Elway as his quarterback. He won just one playoff game in 14 seasons as head coach after Elway retired.

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His most recent coaching stint ended ugly in Washington after compiling a 24-40 record in four seasons. Shanahan has spent 20 seasons as an NFL head coach, beginning in 1988 with the Los Angeles Raiders. His regular-season record was 170-138, with an 8-6 postseason record.